Butler Trade Brings Uncertainty to Bulls, Excitement to TWolves

I have been waiting years for the day the Bulls decided to wake up and trade Jimmy Butler. Thursday's NBA Draft that sent Jimmy Butler packing to Minnesota should've been an awesome event. Instead, I'm left with more uncertainty than before. Let me explain.

First off, I wish Jimmy Butler nothing but the best with the Timberwolves. I wanted him traded, but I loved him here in Chicago. It's always tough to lose a star like him, especially since he wanted to stay here. That being said, I am happy that GarPax (the Bulls's terrible front office who should've been fired years ago) chose a direction instead of wasting away in Basketball Purgatory. We could've done better with the deal, but I think the crop we got is pretty good. Kris Dunn is a great defensive guard who is a jumpshot away from being a solid starter in the NBA. Zach LaVine, despite his recent ACL tear, is already a bonafide offensive powerhouse with athleticism through the roof. The Bulls also got the 7th overall pick, which was used on Arizona stretch 5 Lauri Markkanen. Personally, I would've like them to take Dennis Smith Jr., but Markkanen still has tons of upside because of his sweet shooting stroke. Overall, the deal was fine for me, but I don't understand why we gave up the 16th pick. For a team that is rebuilding, draft picks, no matter what round, are essential to development. It probably won't matter in the grand scheme of things (unless Justin Patton becomes an all-star), but just having the assurance of picks is a necessary part of a rebuild Chicago's front office still isn't getting.

This was exemplified by Chicago inexcusably selling the 38th overall pick to the Warriors for $3.5M. The pick was Jordan Bell, a valuable prospect whose athleticism the Bulls could've utilized. Instead, we get $3.5M to use on what? Re-signing Nikola Mirotic? I sure hope not. He has regressed every year he's been in the NBA, doesn't play defense, and can't shoot for 7/8 of the season. But that's what it's looking like because GarPax announced their intention of bringing Mirotic back to Chicago. It's these types of decisions that continue to make Bulls fans so angry. We do something right for a change, and then we screw something else up. If this is the way the Bulls handle this rebuild, then Chicago fans are in for a rough 8-12 years. Hopefully, the new Big 3 of Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen can lead us back to relevance. 

Please excuse that prior Bulls rant.

Now for the Timberwolves, this was a perfect deal for them. They get rid of two risky assets in Dunn and LaVine and receive a top 10 NBA player in Jimmy Butler. They now get to pair him up with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins under coach Tom Thibodeau, who coaching Jimmy in Chicago. This couldn't have gone any better for Minnesota. On top of that, the core of Butler, Towns and Wiggins can lure big name free agents. Kyle Lowry, perhaps? Butler was said to be in contact with him earlier in the week. Maybe Minnesota can emerge as a Western Conference Semi-Finals threat as soon as next year. I certainly will be keeping an eye on them.