Report: Bulls rebuff Timberwolves' draft night offers for Butler

After renewed optimism that the Minnesota Timberwolves could swing a blockbuster trade for All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler after drafting Kris Dunn fifth overall, Thursday's NBA draft came and went without such a deal.

It was originally reported talks between the Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls fell apart because Minnesota didn't want to include guard Zach LaVine, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Wolves were willing to move any players in a trade for Butler aside from Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Instead, Stein reports, it was the Bulls who were unwilling to move on from Butler just over 24 hours after trading former NBA MVP Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks.

Butler, a favorite of Timberwolves president and head coach Tom Thibodeau from their days together in Chicago, has averaged 20.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, four assists, and 1.7 steals on a True Shooting Percentage of 57.2 over the last two seasons, though he's missed 32 games during that time.

Butler has also been named to the NBA's All-Defensive 2nd Team in three straight seasons.

Dunn, a tough, versatile perimeter defender, also projects as a future Thibodeau favorite.