The Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns have been talking for weeks trying to find more teams to facilitate a Jimmy Butler trade. There were talks about the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks’ willingness to help. Now, a new team has emerged, and that is the Chicago Bulls. What is the role the Bulls play in the Butler trade? Let’s explore.
Chicago Bulls Could Get Involved in Jimmy Butler Trade
On the recent episode of the Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst mentioned that the Bulls have been involved in trade talks with the Suns. He said,
“What’s more interesting is the Bulls right now, they are absolutely involved in conversations with the Suns in a possible Jimmy Butler situation. Not that Butler would end up in Chicago… But the bottom line is that the Bulls and the Suns have talked and the concept of Bradley Beal ending up in Chicago has been discussed. I am not saying it is going to happen. Obviously, Beal has a no-trade clause, but I can’t believe that Chicago would do that deal.”
The Bulls have been trying to trade their high-salary player for a while now. But there is no market for Zach Lavine, and the Bulls might be trying to get out of his contract.
Why Beal for LaVine is Crazy for Chicago
Swapping LaVine for another high-salary contract would be insane for Chicago. For starters, LaVine is younger, and this year, he is playing better. Plus, he has a lower salary compared to Beal. Both players are injury-prone, and they have been ravaged by injuries in the last few years.
LaVine is 29 years old, and if you take his salary out of the equation, he has had a great year so far. He averages 24 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 51.2% shooting from the floor and 44.4% from beyond the arc. LaVine is having a career year from three-point, the second time he is shooting more than 40%. The last time was during the 2020-21 season when he shot 41.9% and averaged 8.2 attempts from behind the arc. This year, he attempts 7.2 threes per game.
Beal is 31 years old and hasn’t played in 60+ games since the 2020-21 season. This season, he averages 17.2 points and 3.3 assists on 48.5% from the floor and 39.6% from behind the arc. However, the biggest difference is that Beal has a no-trade clause. The Bulls can try and trade LaVine in the summer or at next year’s trade deadline. If they get Beal, they cannot trade him without him allowing it.
The Bulls Will Not Get Much from a Butler Trade
The Chicago Bulls might try to get into the Butler four-team or five-team trade, but they cannot expect to get much. After all, the whole point of the multi-team deal is to find assets that Miami will like. The only other team that might get rewarded is the one that gets Bradley Beal and his remaining salary.
The Bulls would essentially swap Zach LaVine for Beal while getting some draft capital. Is that worth it? Both have a player option for the 2026-27 season, but LaVine can earn $48.9 million, while Beal has an option for $57 million. The Bulls might end up getting one of the three picks Phoenix got recently from Utah, but none of them is a quality first-round pick.
The Bulls Need to Tank, Not to Win Games
The Chicago Bulls are currently in the 10th spot in the east, which would mean they have a chance to make the playoffs and miss the lottery. They owe their 2025 first-round pick to San Antonio, protected 1-10 in 2025, 1-8 in 2026, and 1-8 in 2027. If Chicago doesn’t send a first-round pick by 2027, they will instead send their 2028 second-round pick.
In other words, the Bulls should be trying to get lower in the standings and keep their pick this year. The 2025 draft is one of the deepest in recent history, with plenty of contributors available. They might not get a top 3 pick, but the Bulls can find a quality rotation player among the first 10 picks. As of January 27th, the Bulls have the No.9 pick in the 2025 draft. Of the teams below them, the Philadelphia 76ers might try to make a push for the playoffs. The remaining teams are more motivated to tank than try to make a push.
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