NBA Trade Grades: Bulls to send Jimmy Butler to Timberwolves

Chicago Bulls

With the return the Bulls got in this trade, you would’ve thought they were in the Indiana Pacers’ position: trying to move a disgruntled superstar who wants to leave and possessing zero leverage in any potential trade talks. With PG-13 on the trade block, Jimmy Butler’s price should’ve been sky high, especially since he has an extra year on his contract and is still in his prime.

Instead, Chicago’s front office settled for peanuts for their franchise player.

Zach LaVine is a talented young piece, and clearly the best part of this deal. In his third season, the 22-year-old 2-guard averaged a career-high 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three-point range.

However, an ACL tear ended his season after only 47 games, and he’s not expected to recover for some time. Fans will love the excitement he brings for his bounce and renowned dunking ability, and he’s actually far more than just an electric dunker, but will he be the same after a major knee injury?

Even if he is the same coming back, LaVine doesn’t have the same ceiling as a guy like Butler, especially on the defensive end. He’s a solid scorer, explosive athlete and underrated spot-up shooter, but there are still major holes in his game.

LaVine the best part of this trade by far, and he can learn from Dwyane Wade, but there are already red flags popping up with little Bulls logos plastered all over them.

That’s only the first questionable aspect of this trade. Kris Dunn was supposed to be the Timberwolves’ replacement for Ricky Rubio at the point guard position as a poor man’s, more defensively-inclined Russell Westbrook, but he severely underwhelmed as a rookie, averaging 3.8 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game on ugly .377/.288/.610 shooting splits.

Most rookies deserve the benefit of the doubt because they have so much time to grow, but Dunn was supposed to be more NBA-ready than he appeared, especially at age 23. The Bulls need a franchise point guard to replace Rajon Rondo one day and they got younger at that spot, but there’s definite draft bust potential here.

As for the No. 7 pick, the Bulls used it on Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen, one of the best — if not the best — shooters in the draft. However, his defensive flaws could easily prevent him from ever reaching those lofty Dirk Nowitzki comparisons.

Chicago desperately needed shooting after ranking 24th in three-point percentage, but there are serious holes in Markkanen’s game that will need to be filled as he gets older (at least he’s only 20 years old).

This deal means restricted free agent Nikola Mirotic could be gone this summer, though Butler’s contract coming off the books frees up some cap space. But even if letting Mirotic sign an offer sheet elsewhere winds up being the smart move, moving a proven star like Butler for such a paltry package is yet another blunder on the part of the Bulls’ front office.

Trading a guy who averaged a career-high 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals on .455/.367/.865 shooting splits while doubling as one of the league’s best wing defenders is one thing. Doing so for a guy coming off an ACL tear, a guy with serious bust potential and a one dimensional rookie shooter is another animal entirely.

But hey, at least there’s a trade exception!

In all seriousness, Chicago could’ve and should’ve held out for much more than this. Even if LaVine returns healthy, even if Dunn becomes a more serviceable point guard than Cameron Payne, Jerian Grant and the rest of that Bulls pu-pu platter at the 1, and even if Markkanen is playable at the next level on both ends of the floor, Butler still should’ve fetched more than this.

Grade: D