Jimmy Butler (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Miami Heat are in talks with the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls regarding a potential huge trade involving All-Star winger Jimmy Butler, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical of Yahoo Sports.
Wojnarowski reported hours before the start of the NBA draft that the Heat are in advanced negotiations with the two teams with regards to possibly acquiring the two-time All-Star.
Butler, 26, has been the center of trade rumors for quite some time, with several teams expressing serious interest in the two-way player.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, who signed Butler's former coach Tom Thibodeau, and the Boston Celtics, have already made several inquiries regarding Butler's availability, but couldn't hammer a deal because of the Bulls' high asking price for the All-Star.
Moreover, the Bulls' openness to entertain trade offers for Butler comes as a surprise since they have already dealt Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks.
Many insiders believe the Bulls' aggressiveness on the trading front only means they are already considering to blow up the core and start a youth revolution after being a playoff contender in the last decade.
The Heat, on the other hand, fell one game short of setting up an Eastern Conference final showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although the Heat remain interested in signing Kevin Durant, Pat Riley is already making moves to make his team more intriguing destination for the superstar by acquiring another star through trades.
The Heat has promising youngsters on their roster (Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson) to use as trade baits for Butler, though there are rumblings that the Bulls are targeting Winslow because of his two-way upside. The Raptors will most likely act as a conduit party to the potential trade.
Averaging 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists last season, Butler is one of the best two-way players in the league. Last summer, he signed a five-year, $ 95 million contract with the Bulls, but injuries prevented him from leading the Bulls back to the postseason.
