Cleveland Cavaliers Aggressively Pursuing Trade For Bulls' Jimmy Butler

According to reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers are aggressively pursuing a trade for Chicago Bulls wing Jimmy Butler.

The Cavs are trying to engage the Bulls in multi-team trade scenarios that would enable them to acquire Jimmy Butler.https://t.co/HsuzMDpfrl

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 19, 2017

From ESPN:

The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to engage the Chicago Bulls in multi-team trade scenarios that would enable the Eastern Conference champions to acquire Bulls star Jimmy Butler, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN that the Cavaliers, in addition to their reported interest in Indiana’s Paul George, are trying to assemble trade packages that would convince the Bulls to part with Butler, who is fresh off the best season of his career.

It’s believed that the Cavaliers, by offering All-Star forward Kevin Love, would try to recruit a third team that could supply the sort of young player and top draft picks sure to be more appealing to Chicago than the limited trade assets on Cleveland’s veteran-laden roster.

The Boston Celtics also have a longstanding interest in Butler and potentially possess seven first-round picks in the next three drafts to pitch to the Bulls after Boston’s trade with Philadelphia on Monday that swapped the Nos. 1 and 3 overall picks in Thursday night’s draft.

Butler, if he stays in Chicago, would be eligible for a so-called “super max” contract extension exceeding $200 million in the summer of 2018 if he earns an All-NBA berth next season as he did this season. But sources say that the Bulls, as expected, are getting trade calls on Butler and could be moved to try to schedule meetings this week with top-tier draft prospects such as Duke’s Jayson Tatum and Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox if talks get serious.

Jimmy Butler’s 6th NBA season put him in some elite company. pic.twitter.com/IGTXxq3nNl

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 19, 2017

Back in February, Butler was a guest on ESPN‘s First Take and expressed the desire to play with Kyrie Irving.

Jimmy Butler said he wants to play with Kyrie and Kyle Korver? Cavs in 3. pic.twitter.com/efl2dMNAsZ

— Bruh Report (@BruhReport) June 19, 2017

However, Butler’s former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is reportedly determined to bring him to the ‘Twin Cities’ to join the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Minnesota has far more assets to offer Chicago.

Sources: Chicago’s price for Jimmy Butler remains elevated, but Minnesota has assets and interest. Sides made preliminary contact this week.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 19, 2017

Keep in mind the Boston Celtics have an abundance of picks to trade and are looking for a high-scoring wing like Butler or Gordon Hayward as well, so the Cavs clearly have plenty of competition.

Stay tuned, folks!