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Could The Cleveland Cavaliers Trade For Jimmy Butler

By Quenton S. Albertie

Feb 17, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Jimmy Butler during the All Star media availability at the Ritz Carlton. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Jimmy Butler during the All Star media availability at the Ritz Carlton. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Bulls have been a quirky basketball club with Jimmy Butler as the leader. Could his latest comments catapult him to the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Does Chicago Bulls’ swingman Jimmy Butler want to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Ask Butler who he wants to play with more than anybody and it would be his longtime friend, Kyrie Irving.

"“I’d probably have to go with my favorite player who is not myself, and that’s Kyrie [Irving]. I love Kyrie’s game, man. And he’s a really good dude,” said Butler."

Ask Butler want kind of player the Chicago Bulls need to open up the floor for him and he says Kyle Korver.

"“Any type of shooter to where I can attack the paint, get to the rim, get to the free-throw line and do what I do best because you can’t leave that guy. So, I don’t know, Kyle Korver? A shooter like that.”"

That’s what he had to say on ESPN’s First Take anyways (quotes gathered by NBC Sports’ Dane Carbaugh).

Now, Butler is notorious for two things.

Questioning the heart of his teammates and coaches and, like Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James, working hard to develop his game. The 6-foot-7, 220 pound swingman was the thirtieth overall pick in the 2011 Draft but is currently a three-time All-Star. That’s three more appearances than two Cleveland Cavaliers picked in the top-five of that same draft class, Derrick Williams and Tristan Thompson.

Williams and Thompson have tremendous defensive versatility, efficiency, hustle, athleticism and basketball IQ. A three-time NBA All-Defensive Team, Butler has incredible defensive energy, is a knockdown shooter from midrange and has developed as a takeover scorer.

This season, Butler is averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game, his third season averaging 20.0 points per game or more. Butler is also averaging a career-high 5.0 assists per game after steadily improving his playmaking ability each year. Averaging a career-high 6.3 rebounds per game, Butler is no slouch on the glass, either.

Off-the-court Butler has went from criticizing the Bulls to praising to current Cavs. He could simply aspire to reach the level the Cavs are at but he also wants to win now. With that being the case and with reports that the Bulls are shopping Butler, this conversation should be held before a team like the Boston Celtics trade for him.

Could, or rather, should the Cleveland Cavaliers trade for Butler?

According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, Butler can be acquired for the right price.

"“League sources say that the team made it known weeks ago through back channels that shooting guard Jimmy Butler is available for the right price.”"

The question is, what would the Cavs give up or have to give up for Butler?

Butler is available but at 27-years-old and squarely at the start of his prime, the Bulls would want a top-dollar return. A package of Iman Shumpert, who could be like Butler in time, and Channing Frye isn’t necessarily top-dollar. Trading the Bulls Kevin Love, while all their power forwards enter free agency this offseason, is.

The Cavs may have been unwilling to give up Love in a deal for 32-year-old Carmelo Anthony. They shouldn’t hesitate to trade Love for Butler, a player that will help the Cavs win games without LeBron both now and in the future.

They may wait until the offseason, as both the Cavs and the Bulls are chasing dreams. The Cavs are visited by visions of winning a second consecutive NBA championship. The Bulls just want to make the playoffs and then work from there. Nonetheless, whenever the trade is made it’ll improve the Cavs’ chances of winning a championship.

Truth be told, the Cavs aren’t going to doom themselves by trading Love for Butler, especially when James can play power forward. Butler is a player that will improve the Cavs’ speed, defense and playmaking. He’ll be there if James isn’t there to provide many of the things James can.

Preferably, the Cavs keep Love in acquiring Butler but if the offseason rolls around and Butler is still in Chi-Town, general manager David Griffin should offer Love for Butler.

Related Story: Kyrie Irving's Best Moments On All-Star Weekend

Would you want Jimmy Butler on the Cleveland Cavaliers at the cost of Kevin Love? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.