Hoops Habit
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NBA Trade Deadline: Every Team’s Most Untouchable Asset

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 120-93. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 120-93. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler

The Chicago Bulls have a very solid roster. Pau Gasol is an All-Star, Derrick Rose offers brief flashes of his MVP-caliber ability, Nikola Mirotic is a promising piece of the future, and the likes of Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis, and Tony Snell are all flush with value and potential.

Solid as those players are, the only untouchable player on the roster is All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler.

Butler has emerged as one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a two-time All-Defensive Team honoree, a two-time All-Star, and the 2015 Most Improved Player award-winner. At 26 years old, he’s also coming into his own as one of the more complete players in the NBA.

Already an elite defender and a productive scorer, Butler is developing as a facilitator, averaging 5.4 assists per game since January 1.

The 26-year-old has played an unspeakably high volume of minutes since entering the NBA, and his body may break down, a la Luol Deng. Even with knowledge of that troubling potential, the Bulls are a postseason-caliber team because of Butler’s ability to contribute star-caliber minutes on both ends.

He’s no Michael Jordan, but Butler is well on his way to becoming one of the best players in franchise history. Don’t trade him, Gar Forman.

Next: Cleveland Cavaliers