The latest report has the Minnesota Timberwolves pursuing Chicago Bulls' guard Jimmy Butler.
The T-Wolves are now coached by Tom Thibodeau who played a key role in Butler's development. Ever since he took the role of President of Basketball Operations alongside the Head Coach job, the rumors about trading for his protégé have started.
Since then, there has not been any confirmation that there were actual talks taking place, until now. The latest report from Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN has the Wolves dangling the 5th overall pick to obtain one of the best two-way players in the league.
"The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to part with the No. 5 overall pick in this month's draft, as the centerpiece of a trade package, if they can use it to construct a deal for Chicago Bulls star swingman Jimmy Butler, according to league sources," the report stated.
Also, the Wolves were really on the prowl, they have just kept it under wraps as the report also confirmed.
"Sources told ESPN.com that the Wolves, in these early days of the Tom Thibodeau era, have made it known to the Bulls that they are strongly interested in dealing for Butler should Chicago elect to make him available."
For a star like Jimmy Butler, a draft pick would not suffice as it was recently stated by a source from the Celtics that the Bulls front office are setting a high price tag.
According to a source quoted by A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE, the price tag is steep.
"An offer would have to include at least one 'legitimate, NBA starter' for the Bulls to even possibly consider trading him.
The offer in question was the no.3 pick of the Boston Celtics, which they are "aggressively pushing" as per the latest reports from their camp. Since the T-Wolves would offer the 5th pick, the assumption is that they may have to include a starter as well.
The Chicago Bulls need a point guard and Ricky Rubio has been in and out of the trade rumor mill since last year. Rubio would do well with Derrick Rose in Hoiball offense.
The ESPN report does not mention Rubio or any other Minnesota starter in particular and the Bulls could use the 5th pick to draft a point guard (most likely Kris Dunn). The Bulls could then trade for Gorgui Dieng and other pieces, but these are just speculative at this point.