Why the Bulls would be foolish to trade Jimmy Butler

It's officially deadline month! To celebrate, theScore's NBA editors will be asking and answering the questions that matter leading up to Feb. 23.

With the Chicago Bulls on the brink of collapsing for the second time in as many years, All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler has once again found himself mentioned in trade rumors with the deadline approaching.

Despite putting up All-NBA level numbers through the first half of the season, Butler's shoddy relationship with the team's front office has made him expendable in the eyes of Bulls' management, making it a realistic possibility he's dealt in the coming weeks.

While trading Butler could solve some of the hostility in the locker room, it would be far from a savvy maneuver, and could set the franchise back years if a deal actually comes to fruition.

Just how good is Butler?

It may seem overly laudable given the Bulls' unremarkable record, but you could make a strong case that Butler has been the second best player in the East this season behind only LeBron James.

The 6-foot-7 small forward's two-way game is the main reason why Chicago has remained competitive, with some of his numbers ranking among the top players in the entire Association.

In addition to his 24.6 points per game, Butler ranks third in win shares, fifth in offensive win shares, seventh in VORP, and 10th in offensive box plus/minus.

Should Butler maintain his pace for the remainder of the campaign, it would be the most impressive season by a Bulls player since Derrick Rose took home MVP honors in 2010-11.

Getting a fair return

It's not always the case, but in the NBA, the team that acquires the best player is often deemed the winner of the deal.

While he may not receive the same level of recognition as some of the league's top players, Butler is undoubtedly a superstar, and the chances of Chicago getting a top-tier player in return for the Marquette product doesn't seem all that likely.

Sure, they could get a couple exciting young players that could boost the team's future, but to win in the NBA you need a superstar. The Bulls already have one, and would be foolish to give away the type of asset every team covets.

Affordable contract

While Butler may play like an All-NBA player, he's not exactly paid like one.

With two years remaining on his contract, Butler will make about $19 million annually from now until the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign. That may sound like a lot, but it's still slightly less than the deal Ryan Anderson signed this summer, and millions less than many of the league's star players will make over the next few seasons.

Unlike much of the NBA's top-tier talent, Butler's salary isn't eating away at the team's cap space, making him one of the most valuable players in the Association on a per dollar basis.

If Butler can continue to produce at a superstar level, the Bulls will have themselves quite the bargain from now until 2019, and extra cap space available to potentially land another star player.

Signing him long-term

There's always the concern that Butler will walk when he becomes a free agent due to his disdain for Bulls management, but money often talks, and it seems unlikely the 27-year-old would forgo tens of millions of dollars just because he has an issue with some of the team's higher-ups.

While Butler's best years could very well be behind him by the time he signs another contract, he also doesn't rely heavily on his athleticism to get by, meaning he will likely have little issue adjusting his game as he ages. Signing Butler to a fair market deal would hurt his value slightly, but if he ages well, Chicago won't have to worry about overpaying for an over-the-hill player.

Plan B

Just because Chicago would foolish to trade Butler doesn't mean they should stand pat from now until April.

If the Bulls are serious about improving their culture, they should part ways with Rajon Rondo before things get any worse. He is nothing more than a distraction at this point, and the Bulls would be wise to rid themselves of the Kentucky product in any way possible.

Firing Fred Hoiberg may not make much of a difference in the standings, but letting go of a coach that Butler has little respect for could help save the tarnished player/management relationship.

Whatever route the Bulls choose to go, trading Butler should not be an option, especially if they fail to acquire a player capable of becoming the future version of their star small forward.