Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler continues to be mentioned in trade rumors and the latest from the mill right now is a potential move to the Philadelphia Sixers for either Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor plus future draft picks.

Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher was one of the first reporters to spread the rumors that the Bulls have begun "shopping" the 27-year-old Butler for "the right price", saying that the team made it known "weeks ago through back channels".

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Bucher then claimed that Chicago has been "uncertain about building around Butler even after signing him to a 5 year, $95 million extension" in the summer of 2015. He also noted that Bulls general manager Gar Forman "held off" trading Butler sooner this season "because of the team's surprising start".

However, with Chicago now down to the seventh spot in the East with a 19-18 record, senior team officials are said to be "a little more open" to dealing the former NBA Most Improved Player awardee along with mercurial point guard Rajon Rondo.

One of the teams reportedly interested in trading for Butler right now is the Sixers. Even if the Bulls are the ones looking to trade Butler, he would still command a steep price being the franchise player of his current squad.

At the least, Chicago reportedly could ask for either Noel or Okafor and a couple of future first-round picks for them to agree on letting go of Butler.

Fansided reported that the "likely picks would be the Lakers' 2017 first rounder as well as a protected future first rounder", which are quite valuable as the next two NBA Drafts are projected to be "loaded with star talent".

However, the trade would be worth it for Philadelphia, who are currently looking for a proven NBA superstar to lead their young squad as well as some roster balance because their roster is filled with star-potential bigs.

Butler can right away become the Sixers main man and could even lead them to become future championship contenders once the young players have already developed to their potentials.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2017, Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Philadephia 76ers