It's been years since Jimmy Butler last put the Chicago Bulls on his shoulders. That may have been for the best, though, as he had worn out his welcome and was clearly more than ready to take his talents elsewhere.
Even so, most Bulls fans remember him fondly. And even if that weren't the case, the front office could look to bring him back for one final run. Not to play, though, but to move up several spots in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Golden State Warriors have the No. 11 pick, and they may want someone who can help them win now. As such, the Bulls could gladly take on Butler's big contract to gain some financial flexibility. Let's break it down.
The Bulls and Warriors could help each other with a Jimmy Butler trade
In this scenario, the Bulls would send the No. 15 pick to the Bay Area in return for taking Butler's expiring mammoth $56.8 million salary. They will get the No. 11 pick for their trouble, moving up four spots while the Warriors can still get a solid player at No. 15 or, even better for them, trade the pick again.
The Warriors know their title window is about to close. They must make the most of Stephen Curry while he's still at the peak of his powers. Butler is coming off a major injury and may not play much next season, especially given his injury history.
By getting rid of his salary, the Warriors will be in a position to make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, or any of the big fish who might be up for grabs this offseason.
Then, the Bulls could simply let Butler work his way back to full strength there, buy him out, or try to flip him at the deadline to a desperate team. What they can't afford to do, however, is play him big minutes, as they should only focus on player development.
Butler can be a good mentor to help the youngins develop a competitive spirit and a relentless work ethic, though he can also be a bit of a headache when his money is on the line or when things aren't going the team's way. As such, keeping him around for just one year helps mitigate any risk of yet another locker room mutiny.
It's been a long time since Butler last gave this team a hand. And after everything the team has been through in almost a decade, watching him give the team that drafted him one final big win would be poetic.
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