Jimmy Butler and DeMarcus Cousins (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors continue as one of the biggest names on the trading block has been given a steep price tag.
From a report on CSNNE, the Chicago Bulls have given the asking price for their superstar and it won't come cheap.
From Sherrod Blakely, he quoted a league source that "the Bulls, while still open to listening to offers for Butler, are telling teams that are inquiring about his availability that their plan for now is to keep him in the fold. And while there was some thought that a top-3 pick coupled with a few decent players might be enough to entice the Bulls to pull the trigger on a deal to trade Butler, CSNNE.com has been told such an offer would have to include at least one 'legitimate, NBA starter' for the Bulls to even possibly consider trading him."
Even with those demands, the trade is still considered "a stretch."Still, Blakely said going all in on a Butler trade would be worth it as he compared this situation to Ainge assembling the Big Three that won the title in 2008.
The Bulls are playing the leverage game as they know that the Celtics need to convert their assets into stars because they would be very challenged to field a roster with four rookies.
Danny Ainge has shared his thoughts with ESPN on the Big Three comparison and he admits it is not the same situation. "I'm not sure we have a Paul Pierce on our roster. But I do think we have a lot more things to trade, a lot more [assets] to move."
Pierce is the established superstar and is the first step in building the Big Three. Ainge has to build his dynasty from scratch which is why the Bulls know that the Celtics need Butler more.
However, Ainge should not be underestimated as he has definitely explored all possible trade options to get their first star. He airs his confidence that his team can still get free agents. At some point, he will find a more reasonable trade partner and walk away from their Conference rivals.
"I think our team is attractive to some," Ainge said. "I think Boston and the tradition and the Celtics and their winning ways and our fan base and ownership group and sort of the chemistry that we have as an organization between coach, management and ownership, I think that we're an attractive place for free agents. But, ultimately, free agents want to come to a place where they can win. Where they get paid. Where they get an opportunity to play their game."
