AJ Neuharth-Keusch, and Jeff Zillgitt

USA TODAY

After the news broke late Sunday night that Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is headed to New Orleans to join Anthony Davis in what will be the NBA's most star-studded frontcourt, one player leapfrogged to the forefront of the NBA trade deadline talks: Jimmy Butler.

Butler, who has spent his first 5 1/2 NBA seasons in Chicago with the Bulls, has had his name tossed around on the trade front — particularly with the Boston Celtics — for quite some time. But with the Feb. 23 trade deadline right around the corner, those trade talks could reach uncharted territory in the next few days.

Looking at a potential Celtics-Bulls trade from the perspective of both teams — would a move make sense?

Yes. Yes it would. However, what appears to make sense for one person doesn't always make sense to another. The Celtics have been stingy with the first-round draft picks they have in their arsenal, and while it's expected they make a splash with a trade eventually, Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is intent on finding the right All-Star caliber player who is also the right fit under coach Brad Stevens.

The Celtics have a long-term view of their situation and have proved they are not in a rush to make a deal just because they have the assets. Plus, in the new CBA, draft picks are turning into incredibly valuable assets.

When discussing potential trades, questions about fit also always arise. There's the possibility that playing styles — and personalities — won't mesh. But for the Celtics, adding a player of Butler's caliber might be worth the risk.

Not only is Butler averaging a career-high 24.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and five assists, but he has continued to up his offensive production year after year, emerging as one of the league's top two-way players. His offensive skill set would take some of the scoring burden off the shoulders of All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, who's finding himself at the heart of defensive game plans on a nightly basis.

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On the other end of the floor, Butler's defensive prowess would provide immediate assistance for a Celtics team that has taken a step back on that front this season (106.2 points allowed per 100 possessions; 18th in NBA), especially if the trade were to involve starting shooting guard Avery Bradley, who's one of the top perimeter defenders in the league, or starting small forward Jae Crowder, who's versatile enough to defend multiple positions.

What's more, the Celtics, who have won 11 of their last 13 games, sit just three games behind the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers for first place in the Eastern Conference. Adding Butler wouldn't just make them the clear-cut No. 2 team in the East. It would make them a legitimate threat to dethrone the defending champs come playoff time and give them a budding superstar who's on contract for at least two more seasons (player option in 2019-2020).

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Stevens recently told CSN New England he doesn't anticipate "a ton of change," but you never know what "comes to the table."

"Those are discussions that Danny (Ainge) and his staff will have, and he'll bring me what's serious to my plate," Stevens said.

Could that plate feature a trio of Thomas, Butler and four-time All-Star big man Al Horford?

While the mere thought of moving Butler — who, based strictly on talent, should be a building block for the Bulls — is strange, it's a reality for this Bulls franchise mired in mediocrity, one game under .500 and in seventh place in the East.

So why keep him? Why should the Bulls continue to push for what will likely be, at best, a first-round exit from the playoffs and a fanbase growing more frustrated by the day? Why not uproot the entire thing and start building for the future?

Well, the Bulls have a perennial All-Star who is just 27 years old and improving, and making the playoffs is important to the franchise. Whether it's next season or the following season, the Bulls will have salary cap flexibility and eventually the ability to offer Butler the designated veteran's maximum salary. In what could be a deep draft in June, the Bulls have their own first-round pick and could also possibly get Sacramento's first-round pick, provided it's not in the top 10.

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The Celtics have a bevy of trade assets — namely, a swap for the Brooklyn Nets' pick in this year's draft, which is currently No. 1 in the lottery — to help the Bulls rebuild, which is something that should have begun six months ago rather than signing veterans Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade. If the Celtics throw in a young player with high upside like Jaylen Brown (Boston's third overall pick in 2016), both teams could walk away victorious. Eventually.

Fully committing to a rebuild — like the Kings just did by sending away Cousins — is never an easy move for a front office, particularly for one controlling a franchise as storied as the Bulls. But for executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman, who have found themselves in the negative spotlight more often than not, it's time to turn over a new leaf.

As the trade chatter begins to heat up, Butler claims he's not concerned.

"I ain't worried about that. It don't bother or scare me none. I'll be OK," Butler told reporters in New Orleans on Sunday. " ... I don't know. I don't control (the trade talks). I control what I can control, like going on vacation."

Could that vacation — the NBA season resumes on Thursday night — end with a flight to Boston?

Follow AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK and Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt