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Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Could Trade For Him

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) stands on the court during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Bulls 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) stands on the court during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Bulls 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmy Butler trade rumors
Dec 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) looks to pass while Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (34) guards during the first half of the game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Detroit Pistons

The return of Reggie Jackson hasn’t gone according to plan, with the Detroit Pistons going 6-11 since he came back and falling all the way to 11th in the conference standings. It’d be well within Stan Van Gundy’s rights to consider further roster tweaks, or even a full blockbuster deal like this.

It may seem like it’s too early to give up on Jackson now that he’s back, and the Pistons certainly wouldn’t be criticized for staying patient and standing pat at the deadline. But bringing in Butler would give Detroit a go-to scorer and Van Gundy already has a semi-capable point guard that could replace Jackson in Ish Smith.

Giving up a promising two-way player like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would hurt as well, but like Jackson, he hasn’t exactly blown anyone away in 2016-17. He’s shooting a career-high 38.4 percent from downtown, but that’s really the only area on offense where he’s shown substantial growth in his fourth year.

Related Story: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Brandon Knight

He’s still quite valuable at age 23, Jackson is only 26, and Henry Ellenson is a useful stretch-big who could provide further depth to Chicago’s frontcourt. It’d be a bit crowded, but they’d also have a very deep backcourt between Jackson, KCP and the veteran Dwyane Wade.

Would that be enough compensation for the Bulls without a draft pick being thrown in? Perhaps not. And would Detroit be okay with going back to Ish Smith at the 1 after starting the season 11-10 with him at the helm?

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