The NBA Draft is just a day away, yet it is hardly the next batch of new faces of the NBA that are the talk of the league today. Trade talks continue to swirl around several teams, with the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and Indiana Pacers’ Paul George among the bigger names in swap talks. The Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in both players, but according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein and the Chicago Tribune‘s K.C. Johnson, a Butler-to-Cleveland trade is far fetched for now.
Here’s what K.C. Johnson had to say about a potential deal with Cleveland:
As for Butler, the Bulls remain in active talks with several teams, although the long shot scenario of the Cavaliers landing him hit another speed bump Tuesday. Beyond the fact the franchise parted ways with general manager David Griffin on Monday and would need to convince a third team to send the assets the Bulls would demand for Butler because they don’t own them, a source said Butler’s camp made clear to the Cavaliers he would prefer to remain with the Bulls.
Butler remains committed to the Bulls for reasons beyond they’re the only organization for which he would be eligible for the “supermax” designated-player exception. If he’s traded, his ability to secure a five-year, $200-million-plus extension with one more All-NBA designation doesn’t transfer to another team.
Butler, sources said, feels a sense of loyalty to the organization that drafted him 30th overall and also enjoys living in Chicago.
The Bulls’ parameters for a Butler trade never have changed. To undertake a full rebuild, they would need rotation players or starters on manageable contracts and certainty on multiple high draft picks.
The Celtics remain the team with the most logical assets. But after serious talks between the franchises last June and more dialogue at the February trade deadline, the teams haven’t engaged as much this week to this point. The Timberwolves, Suns and Nuggets are teams that also logically could make a play at Butler.
And here’s what Marc Stein is reporting about a possible Butler move to the Cavs:
Sources said Tuesday that the Cavaliers have been notified that Butler hopes to stay with the Bulls and would be reluctant to commit his long-term future to Cleveland. Butler, sources said, remains intent on trying to lead the Bulls back to Eastern Conference prominence.
As far as acquiring George from the Pacers, the outlook for that move is much like the one for Butler — not so good right now, writes Stein:
When it comes to George, meanwhile, ESPN reported earlier Tuesday that the Pacers have begun trade talks with the Los Angeles Lakers, who overwhelmingly rank as George’s preferred destination as his free agency looms in the summer of 2018.
One option for the Lakers, sources said, is trying to sell the Pacers on a trade package headlined by the 27th pick — acquired as part of an agreed-to deal with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday — and the 28th pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft, in addition to players such as forward Julius Randle and guard Jordan Clarkson. Indiana, meanwhile, continues to try to pry away Thursday’s No. 2 overall pick, despite L.A.’s well-chronicled determination to keep it off limits.
Sources said that David Griffin, in his final few days as Cavaliers general manager, aggressively pursued trades for both Butler and George, seeking to acquire an elite two-way player in the wake of Cleveland’s 4-1 NBA Finals defeat to the Golden State Warriors.
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To land either Butler or George, sources said, Cleveland knows it would have to assemble a three-team trade (or one with more teams involved) — likely costing the Cavs All-Star forward Kevin Love — to manufacture the top-five draft pick Chicago and Indiana are known to covet in exchange for surrendering their respective best players.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Brian Windhorst reported Monday night that Gilbert, alongside Cavaliers assistant general manager Koby Altman, would continue to aggressively pursue upgrades to the roster as Cleveland enters the final season in which LeBron James is under contract.
But sacrificing Love to acquire Butler or George — even for a historically bold team like the Cavaliers — would be risky if neither player is prepared to make a long-term commitment to the franchise.
