Jimmy Butler (Photo : Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images Sport)
The NBA Trade rumors continue and the Orlando Magic are confirmed buyers at the trade deadline and beyond.
The trade rumors may very well continue beyond the trade deadline as teams continue to play coy and factors such as the Draft lottery need to be settled.
However, for the Orlando Magic, the agenda is clear: they need to get a superstar to get them over the hump-which refers to making the playoffs. Most pundits thought this would be the year for the Disney World team but the Eastern Conference has become surprisingly competitive. With 9 teams over .500, the Magic's 23-29 record is only good for 11th place.
Which is why the rumors that there were discussions between the Magic and the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler was not a surprise for Orlando's part. Orlando Magic Daily cited Community Sports Report for the rumor.
The series of tweets that CSR released has caused various speculations among the two teams.
#Bulls reportedly asked for Victor Oladipo, a first round pick and another player, and #Magic turned it down.
— CommunitySportReport (@CSROrlando) February 12, 2016
According to the CSR sound byte that was included in the post, it was the Bulls who made the offer of Jimmy Butler in exchange for Victor Oladipo, a first round pick and one of either Nik Vucevic or Channing Frye according to the source quoted by Juan Bernal of CSR Orlando.
It was not specified whether it was the Orlando Magic who initiated the conversation or the Bulls, but they did state that the Bulls were the ones who made the offer and the Magic declined with no reason stated.
A site based in Chicago, Sports Mockery, has reached out to CSR who claimed that their source was a member of the Orlando Magic front office and they are standing with their claim.
Still, Sports Mockery is questioning why the Bulls would trade Butler. There are theories that it is because of Butler's wrestling with Derrick Rose for the team's "alpha dog" status. There is also Butler's public criticism of new coach Fred Hoiberg.
Another puzzle is why the Orlando Magic did not bite, if indeed the discussions happened. Channing Frye is being rumored to be traded, but if it were Vucevic, then that might have been the deal breaker.
