There are so many layers to the Bulls' blockbuster move to trade three-time All-Star and reigning All-NBA star Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves on Thursday night.
Timberwolves president and coach Tom Thibodeau doing business with his former employer. The attempt to give coach Fred Hoiberg a fresh start after Butler routinely challenged his authority. Testing Dwyane Wade's patience with a rebuilding project.
But the biggest has to be this: The Bulls finally picked a lane.
In Zach LaVine, 22, and Kris Dunn, 23, they acquired two young and athletic guards to build for the future. In Lauri Markkanen, the seventh overall selection whose rights they acquired from the Timberwolves in exchange for the 16th pick, they added shooting for Hoiberg's preferred pace-and-space philosophy.
And don't forget that in moving from re-tooling to rebuilding on the one-year anniversary of the Derrick Rose trade, they almost surely will be in the mix for a lottery pick in the 2018 draft. They also created a $15.3 million trade exception for the next eight days that, parlayed with Rajon Rondo's uniquely structured contract, could be used.
Of course, the move comes at a very high price.
Butler, reunited with Thibodeau, moved from the 30th pick in the 2011 draft to a max contract star by virtue of work and will. His elite, two-way talents and 40-minutes-a-night workmanlike attitude carried with them career-high averages of 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season.
Sometimes, the same will and stubbornness that drove him to great heights emboldened him to the point of challenging Hoiberg's authority. His infamous "coach harder" comment from December 2015 still reverberates.
And surely the organization weighed not only having to pay Butler a five-year, $200 million-plus designated-player exception with one more All-NBA designation but also how he would react to Hoiberg's coaching next season after moving through trade rumors a third time.
Butler, who spent part of Thursday with Wade and Carmelo Anthony vacationing in Paris, told those close to him that he needed time to let the trade sink in before commenting. His trainer, Travelle Gaines, posted this from Paris on his own Twitter account, indicting general manager Gar Forman.
The Timberwolves deal, which was finalized with a phone call between Thibodeau and Paxson, proved the best on the table.
According to sources, the Celtics not only wouldn't offer the No. 3 overall pick but rights to any of next year's first-round picks for Butler. The Suns, once they realized they would get Josh Jackson, refused to include the fourth overall pick, sources said. And the Nuggets wouldn't part with Jamal Murray in brief conversations.
Coincidentally, Dunn was the Bulls' draft target last June when they had serious talks with the Celtics centered on Butler. Dunn endured an underwhelming rookie season, averaging 3.8 points on 37.7 percent shooting in 78 games. But the Timberwolves' coaching staff remained high on his potential.
As for LaVine, he appeared destined for stardom before suffering a left ACL tear in February. LaVine is said to be progressing well in his rehabilitation but has yet to resume strenuous basketball activities.
LaVine, a two-time winner of the slam dunk contest at All-Star weekend, has shot 37.8 percent from 3-point range in three seasons and averaged 18.9 points last season before his injury.
Depending on a decision on Rondo's $3 million buyout by June 30, the Bulls' depth chart now features Dunn, Jerian Grant and Cameron Payne at point guard, Wade, LaVine and Denzel Valentine at shooting guard, Paul Zipser, Bobby Portis, Markannen and possibly Nikola Mirotic at forward and Robin Lopez and possibly Cristiano Felicio at center.
An opening day lineup of Dunn, LaVine _ if he's ready _ Valentine or Zipser, Portis and Lopez isn't out of the question. Wade as sixth man? In this new, rebuilding world, everything is possible.
