Chicago Bulls trade Jimmy Butler for first overall pick in 2017 NBA Mock Draft

The Chicago Bulls trade star Jimmy Butler in exchange for the first overall selection in this 2017 NBA mock draft.

The Chicago Bulls are definitely an organization at a crossroads. Will they continue to roll it back with a team led by Jimmy Butler, Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo or will they finally commit to a true rebuild? It is going to be an extremely interesting offseason for the Bulls as they try to decide what is best for their organization going forward.

I do not envy the position that this front office is in. Butler has become one of the best two-way players in the NBA. On the surface, trading him would be a disaster. That being said, they have continually proved that they cannot put the proper talent around him. I would hate to be in the position of John Paxson and Gar Forman this offseason, but if we are being honest, they have nobody to blame but themselves.

If the Bulls want to go in a true rebuild, trading Butler is the only way to go. He is the only player on their roster with any real value. However, they must make sure that they get the proper value in exchange for him.

More from Chicago Bulls

• Chicago Bulls’ winning ways proves Billy Donovan’s system works
• Chicago Bulls News: Coby White is that dude
• Chicago Bulls’ recent success means big trades make sense
• The Chicago Bulls seem to have a major Zach LaVine problem.
• No Zach, no DeMar, no problem? Chicago Bulls stun the Bucks in OT

In his most recent 2017 NBA mock draft, Ricky O’Donnell of SBNation puts together an interesting situation for the Chicago Bulls. In this mock draft, the Phoenix Suns win the lottery and hold the first overall selection in the draft. However, instead of making the selection, the Suns trade the pick to the Bulls for Butler.

"The Phoenix Suns send the No. 1 pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Jimmy Butler. The Suns can include either Brandon Knight or Tyson Chandler to make the salaries match. Fans of both teams will probably hate it. That’s how you know it’s a good trade."

So, in exchange for Butler, the Bulls get the first overall pick in a loaded draft and Brandon Knight or Tyson Chandler. I can imagine that Bulls’ fans would not be happy with this haul and honestly, I agree.

This is a strong draft filled with potential superstar talent at the top, but Butler is already a top-tier NBA player. You hope that whoever you draft at number one becomes as good of a player as Jimmy Butler. Sure, there is a chance that the player becomes better than Butler, but the chance that he is not as good as Butler is far greater. If the Bulls make a trade like this, I would hope that they would get something else in return.

The first overall selection

With that first overall pick in the mock draft, the Chicago Bulls took Washington point guard Markelle Fultz. While getting rid of Butler would be tough, Fultz would undoubtedly be an exciting player to build around.

More from Da Windy City

• 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
• Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
• The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
• Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates
• Chicago White Sox News: Erick Fedde signs two-year deal

For a complete look at Fultz as a prospect, I am going to send you over to the guys at DraftExpress, who break down his game extremely well. Don’t feel like reading a full scouting report? This quick paragraph gives you an idea of the kind of player Fultz is:

"Fultz has ideal physical tools for a point guard, standing 6’4 (possibly 6’5) in shoes with a massive 6’10 wingspan. He has big hands, a strong frame, and a shifty, herky-jerky style athlete who is quick off his feet and can play above the rim in space."

Simply put, Fultz is a creator with the ball in his hands. He is a true point guard who has incredible natural skills. He is also a good outside shooter who can compete in today’s NBA. Make no mistake about it, this guy is going to be a very good player at the next level.

Fultz is great, but is he alone worth Jimmy Butler? My gut tells me no, but I am far from an expert when it comes to NBA scouting. If nothing else, trading Butler for Fultz would signal a true, extended rebuild for the Bulls. That is something that has been needed for a long time.

I would prefer the Bulls to make a big move like this as opposed to rolling it back with the same roster. Butler is great, but when an aging Wade and Rondo are his running mates, they are not a championship contender.

Next: How did the Bulls get in this position?

A long rebuild would not be fun, but it could be the best path to the Chicago Bulls winning their next NBA championship. When it comes down to it, isn’t that what this is all about?