NBA Rumors: Timberwolves Interested In Trading For Bulls’ Jimmy Butler

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team on the rise in the Western Conference. After hiring Tom Thibodeau as new team president and head coach, Minnesota has a new sense of direction with a potentially bright future ahead. Along with having a talented young core of players already on the roster, it appears as if Thibodeau wants to bring in a familiar face in veteran Jimmy Butler.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chad Ford, Minnesota are willing to trade their lottery pick as part of a package to acquire Butler during the NBA offseason:

The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to part with the No. 5 overall pick in this month’s draft, as the centerpiece of a trade package, if they can use it to construct a deal for Chicago Bulls star swingman Jimmy Butler, according to league sources.

The real question for the Timberwolves moving forward is what will it take to acquire arguably one of the best two-way players in the league today. Butler may not have the value of the NBA’s elite like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant or LeBron James, but the All-Star is considered the cornerstone of the Chicago Bulls franchise and a player that will have a high asking price.

Although the Timberwolves are willing to give up their fifth overall pick in the upcoming 2016 NBA Draft, that won’t be nearly enough to acquire Butler. Apparently, Butler may come at the high price of sending up-and-comer Andrew Wiggins to Chicago.

It remains to be seen whether Thibodeau and company are willing to part ways with Wiggins for Butler, but it seems as though trade talks could be underway.