Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler during the game against the Denver Nuggets last February 5, 2016 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. (Photo : Getty Images/ Bart Young)
The Chicago Bulls will have plenty to consider in the offseason, and rumors have it that part of the team's plan may involve trading Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.
The Bulls head into the offseason with many things to ponder, including the possibility of blowing up the remaining pieces of Chicago's core following a disappointing season. While the Bulls have yet to confirm whether they really intend to trade their Rose and Butler, NBA pundits believe there is a possibility to that idea.
According to Michael Rene Kanoy of Pippen Aint Easy, a blog site for Bulls fanatics, there is a chance the Bulls trade Rose after the team fired the All-Star point guard's rehab specialist for his knee. One of the landing spots Kanoy listed is the Los Angeles Lakers, which could happen at the expense of LA's No. 2 pick and one of the team's young talents.
"The Lakers get their coveted marquee player with D'Angelo Russell staggered at the point and can offer Rose the moon next year easy. The Bulls can trade down the draft with the 14th pick if they score the second pick from the Lakers for more picks and grab role-playing defensive athletes," Kanoy wrote.
There is little sense that the Lakers would trade for Rose, who has unpredictable health issues, playing only a total of 167 games in the past three seasons. While Rose could still average double digits and be effective at some point of his game, his explosiveness and athleticism that made him the youngest MVP in NBA history has long subdued by career-threatening injuries.
There is no denying Rose still has plenty left in his tank, but it may not be enough to veer the Lakers back into title contention.
Meanwhile, Butler has been also rumored to be a trade piece in the offseason. The two-time All-Star and Chicago's rising star could be trade to the Lakers for D'Angelo Russell, Nick Young, Brandon Bass and the No. 2 pick, according to Michael Wonsover of TodaysFastBreak.
"The Bulls would go into full-on rebuild mode in this scenario with two young building blocks in return for Butler. Chicago would also have to absorb the walking-bad-contract that is Swaggy P, as well as Brandon Bass (he has a player option) to make this deal work. Russell was criticized for his early-season struggles and undercover-filming techniques, but he'd be an ideal replacement for Derrick Rose long-term once his contract is up in 2017," Wonsover noted.
It would be interesting to see if the Lakers would consider trading Russell, who is clearly one of the team's prized possessions after selecting him as No. 2 first overall in last year's draft. Russell would be an assurance to Rose if the latter seriously intends to explore free agency in 2017, and would serve as the main piece to the Bulls' rebuild.
On the other hand, Butler would instantly improve the Lakers' rebuilding efforts and would serve as the incumbent successor to Kobe Bryant's throne in Tinseltown.
The Bulls have admitted that everyone in their roster, including the 26-year-old himself, could be on the trading block, but recent reports suggests Butler is unlikely to be dealt soon, according to The Chicago Tribune's KC Johnson, who insisted that it would be a "surprise if the Bulls traded their two-time All Star."
Nevertheless, Butler seems the most ideal target the Lakers should pursue, although it is unlikely they involve Russell in a deal. As for the Bulls, any point guard with potential should be their top priority, with Rose's future in Chicago becoming uncertain.
