Jimmy Butler (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic could be another team interested in trading for Chicago Bulls rising star Jimmy Butler.
Butler has been in the center of trade rumors, with the Bulls looking to rebuild after a disappointing end to their season. Teams like the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves have all been involved to trade talks for the two-time All-Star, with both team's top picks potentially included in a deal.
While the Bulls are reportedly looking to move up the draft order to have a better chance at picking Kris Dunn, it may not hurt receiving young talents who have already had a grip of the league's high-level of competition. According to Mike Calendrillo of Sports Illustrated's Fansided, the Magic could be players to trade for Butler, Orlando's young assets as the main package of a potential transaction.
"A veteran coach needs at least one solid veteran presence, and his name could be 'Jimmy Buckets'," Calendrillo wrote. "Butler to the Magic will make other free agents want to come play for Orlando."
In Calendrillo's trade scenario, the Magic offer their No. 11 pick, Evan Fournier and Victor Oladipo for Butler.
Fournier, who averaged a career-best 15.4 points and 2.7 assists with the Magic last season, would give the Bulls another shooter, which the team has lacked in the past season. But for the Magic to include the Frenchman in a package, they will have to do it via sign-and-trade.
Oladipo, on the other hand, would give the Bulls a versatile player who can score and defend. The 24-year-old shooting guard averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds for the Magic during the regular season, and has become quite the reliable contributor for Orlando.
The No. 11 pick may not give the Bulls a chance to select Dunn, but they still get to move up the draft, which gives them a better a chance to land other top prospects.
Meanwhile, the Magic would get a proven star to complement young talents like Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, and may attract other top free agents to join the Magic this summer. With Frank Vogel set to take over as the Magic's new head coach, Butler could have the same role Paul George has when Vogel was still coaching the Indiana Pacers.
It is undetermined whether the Magic has a genuine interest in trading for Butler, but it could be time for the team to explore deals that could turn them into contenders next season. Certainly, Butler is one of those players worth considering.
