If Bulls test Jimmy Butler trade market, should the Nuggets listen?

Chris Mannix and Bobby Marks of The Vertical’s Two Man Game discussed the possibility of the Chicago Bulls trading 26 year-old Jimmy Butler. “I’ve been hearing rumblings that there is legitimate interest in Chicago in potentially dealing Jimmy Butler this offseason.” said Mannix on the show.

Butler turns 27 years-old on September 14th and still has four years and $76 million on the $95 million contract he signed this past summer. For his career, Butler averages 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists. His production has seen major upticks the past two seasons where he averaged 20 points per game in 65 games last season and 21 points per game in 59 games this season.

As Marks pointed out in the video linked above, there are already injury concerns with Butler. Marks referenced worries over his knee, hip and back as Butler has missed a number of games the past three seasons (this one included). He appeared in 67 games in 2013-14, 65 games last season and is on pace to appear in a maximum of just 67 games this season.

Perhaps even more of a concern is that the Bulls have dropped out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference this season under new head coach Fred Hoiberg. Chicago is currently 37-37, two games behind the Indiana Pacers for the eighth and final spot for the playoffs with just eight games remaining. But with Butler being on the shelf, how much of that can be placed on him?

Mannix hinted at the Bulls testing the market this summer with perhaps the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic and hinted at a combination of Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton as potential targets that could interest the Bulls. The Nuggets have a plethora of young talent and draft picks, and could kick-the-tires on a Butler trade, too. But would Butler fit in with the Nuggets?

Butler’s fit with Denver

Butler is locked up for three more seasons beyond this year and his status for the 2019-20 season is a Player Option for $19.8 million. In coming to Denver he’d be close to his friend, and Denver Broncos wide receiver, Demaryius Thomas — but we can’t be sure if that means much at all.

Butler expressed dissatisfaction with Fred Hoiberg’s  coaching style saying the following back in December to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times:

“I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah,” Butler said, when asked if this team needed a change in personnel as a shake-up. “But I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times. I’m sorry, I know that Fred’s a laid-back guy, and I really respect him for that. But when guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, you gotta get on guys, myself included. You gotta do what you’re supposed to do when you’re out there playing basketball.”

Well, Michael Malone certainly cannot be described as “laid-back” and has shown that he’s willing to be hard on his players when it’s called for. But do the Nuggets need Butler?

Nuggets need for Butler 

While Butler is a diverse scorer on the offensive end and a hard-nosed defensive minded player, he doesn’t provide a lot from a spacing aspect. He’s shooting 31.3 percent this season from 3-point land on 3.1 attempts, that’s down from his career-high of 37.8 percent on 3.0 attempts last season. For his career he’s 32.8 percent 3-point shooter, compare that to Danilo Gallinari‘s career shooting of 36.6 percent from downtown and you see that Butler can be less than dependable from the outside.

Here is a look at Butler’s shot charts for the season. On the left is his overall shooting and on the right is just his 3-point shooting. Key: Green is above league average, Yellow is league average and Red is below league average.

However, Butler’s size, 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, could make him a good option in Denver at shooting guard and small forward. He could give the Nuggets an oversized lineup if he were the two-guard or a quick smaller lineup as the team’s three.

It would likely take a major haul to get Butler away from the Bulls, but the Nuggets would have to ask themselves if paying that kind of price would be wise for a player that will turn 27 years-old before the 2016-17 season. Butler would not fit the timeline of 20 year-old Emmanuel Mudiay or 21 year-old Nikola Jokic perfectly, but the gamble to expedite their growth could be a temptation for a franchise that doesn’t want a four-season drought of post-season play.

The point being, the Nuggets will have options this summer in guys like Butler, perhaps DeMarcus Cousins and others. How they choose to build this summer will be the true test of how much patience the franchise has with their young core.