During the 2017 NBA Draft on Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls made the surprising move to trade All-Star forward Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It has drawn all sorts of reaction around the league ranging from various emotions. Former Bulls great Scottie Pippen has quickly weighed in on the major trade.
Hate to see @JimmyButler go. One of the @NBA's best two way players who has come a LONG way. Thibs is fortunate to get him back.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) June 23, 2017
That said, I'm ok with the move. It's about what's next. 3 talented young players coming to Chicago. Time for a new direction & fresh start.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) June 23, 2017
This deal saw the Bulls ship away Butler along with draft rights to 16th overall selection in former Creighton center Justin Patton for guard Zach LaVine, guard Kris Dunn, and the draft rights to seventh overall pick in former Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen.
This move signals that the Bulls are set to take an entirely different direction by trading the face of the franchise who still has three years left on his five-year $92.3 million contract. Butler is coming off arguably his best individual season averaging career-highs across the board with 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
The 27-year-old could immediately make Minnesota into a playoff contender alongside rising talents in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins under his former head coach Tom Thibodeau.
It is a huge risk that the Bulls are taking by moving Butler, but they appear to be confident that LaVine can develop into a star in the league. Prior to his season ending prematurely due to a torn ACL, he was heading toward a career-best season averaging 18.9 points on 45.9 percent shooting from the field.
Dunn was argued as being the best guard in last year's draft, but he struggled to etch out a significant role in his first year with the Timberwolves. However, this could be a prime opportunity for him to break out in an increased role depending on what the Bulls decide to do with Rajon Rondo.
Dwyane Wade has also stated that he was going to return next season as he has confirmed that he will pick up the $23.8 million option for the 2017-18 campaign. As for Markkanen, he is a stretch forward that has shown the ability to be an effective scorer from the outside, shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range while averaging 15.6 points per game.
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