Chicago Bulls Trade Jimmy Butler To Minnesota Timberwolves
BOSTON (CBS) -- If you were a Celtics fan hoping they'd trade for Jimmy Butler this offseason, it isn't going to happen.
It didn't take too long for a big trade to come to fruition on draft night, as the Chicago Bulls sent their star guard to the Minnesota Timberwolves for guards Zach Lavine and Kris Dunn and the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft.
Chicago is finalizing a deal to send Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and No. 7 pick, league source says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2017
The Celtics were rumored to be interested in Butler at last season's trade deadline and during the early parts of the offseason. In the days leading up the Thursday's draft, one NBA exec said Butler would be traded to either Boston or Cleveland.
The Celtics reportedly refused to give up the No. 3 pick on Thursday night (used to draft Duke forward Jayson Tatum) or their 2018 first-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets in a trade for Butler:
In Bulls talks with Celtics regarding Butler, Celtics refused to offer No. 3 or next year's Nets pick, per source.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 23, 2017
But instead, Butler now heads to Minnesota for a reunion with head coach Tom Thibodeau to play alongside promising young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.