Report: Timberwolves tried to trade Kris Dunn for Jimmy Butler
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The Minnesota Timberwolves tried to trade Kris Dunn after selecting him with the fifth pick of Thursday’s NBA draft, but their trade offer for Jimmy Butler was rejected by the Bulls, ESPN’s Marc Stein reports.
The Bulls, who picked 14th in the draft order, were reportedly very interested in Dunn, but their interest was not enough to entice them to part with their two-time All-Star guard after just trading former MVP Derrick Rose to the Knicks on Wednesday.
Stein reports the deal failed after original optimism it would be completed, but Bulls general manager Gar Forman denied the reports entirely.
• 2016 NBA draft results: Check out full list of first and second round picks
“During the draft, we started getting some texts and saw something on TV that we were in heated talks with somebody,” Forman said. “I don’t know what it was saying. We were in no talks with anybody. There was no discussion during the entire draft this evening as far as Jimmy Butler was concerned.”
The Bulls selected Denzel Valentine with the No. 14 pick and Germany’s Paul Zipser with the No. 48 pick.
