Jimmy Butler

Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler brings the ball up court against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, in Chicago.

(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Some rival executives believe the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls will reopen discussions about Jimmy Butler prior to next month's trade deadline, the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson reported Monday night.

Late last week, a league source suggested Butler did not appear to be on the trade market --yet. But you can be sure the Celtics are monitoring the situation closely. We're only seven months removed from serious draft-night discussions between the Celtics and Bulls, and Chicago's season is threatening to spin out of control. Given what the Bulls reportedly wanted to target if they had secured a 2016 lottery pick -- point guard Kris Dunn -- they could be excited about all the playmaking talent in the upcoming draft. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics will likely end the season with a 25-percent chance of landing the top overall pick.

It would make sense for the Boston and Chicago front offices to talk, but the old caveats still fit. Butler's an All-NBA type player on a bargain contract, and young stars on cheap deals don't change teams very frequently. Even if the Celtics have the type of assets to make a general manager consider bold action, it would take a lot to pry Butler away. As Johnson noted in his story, Boston still has the trade chips Chicago coveted months ago -- but, remember, the two teams never struck a deal then.