Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

There are so many layers to the Bulls’ blockbuster move to trade three-time All-Star and third-team All-NBA player Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Timberwolves president and coach Tom Thibodeau doing business with his former employer. The attempt to give coach Fred Hoiberg a fresh start after Butler routinely challenged his authority. Testing Dwyane Wade’s patience with a rebuilding project.

But the biggest has to be this: The Bulls finally picked a lane.

More Top Picks Differences

In Zach LaVine, 22, and Kris Dunn, 23, they acquired two — ahem — young and athletic guards to build for the future. In Lauri Markkanen, the seventh selection whose rights they acquired from the Timberwolves in exchange for the 16th pick, they added shooting for Hoiberg’s preferred pace-and-space philosophy.

And don’t forget that in moving from retooling to rebuilding on the one-year anniversary of the Derrick Rose trade, they almost surely will be in the mix for a 2018 lottery pick. They also created a $15.3 million trade exception for the next eight days that, parlayed with Rajon Rondo’s uniquely structured contract, could be used.

“It’s always difficult to trade a player and a person that has meant a lot to the organization and we really watched grow as a player,” executive vice president John Paxson said. “That said, we’ve set a direction. We’re going to rebuild this roster through young players that we believe can play a system that Fred is comfortable with. We’re going to be disciplined and patient along the way.”

Of course, the move comes at a very high price. Butler, reunited with Thibodeau, moved from the 30th pick in the 2011 draft to a max-contract star by virtue of work and will. His two-way talents and 40-minutes-a-night workmanlike attitude carried with them career-high averages of 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season.

Sometimes, the same will and stubbornness that drove him to great heights emboldened him to challenge Hoiberg’s authority. His infamous “coach harder” comment from December 2015 still reverberates.

And surely the organization weighed not only having to pay Butler a five-year, $200 million-plus designated-player exception with one more All-NBA designation, but also how he would react to Hoiberg’s coaching after moving through trade rumors a third time — although Paxson denied that.

Butler, who spent part of Thursday with Wade and Carmelo Anthony vacationing in Paris, told those close to him that he needed time to let the trade sink in before commenting. His trainer, Travelle Gaines, posted this from Paris on his own Twitter account, indicting general manager Gar Forman:

“0-82. worst culture in the league. I met drug dealers with better morals then their GM. He is a liar and everyone knows.”

Forman responded: “It is what it is. I guess that’s his opinion.”

The Timberwolves deal, finalized with a phone call between Thibodeau and Paxson, proved the best on the table. According to sources, the Celtics wouldn’t offer the No. 3 pick or rights to any of next year’s first-round picks for Butler. The Suns, once they realized they would get Josh Jackson, refused to include the fourth pick, sources said. And the Nuggets wouldn’t part with Jamal Murray in brief conversations.

Coincidentally, Dunn was the Bulls’ draft target last June when they had serious talks with the Celtics centered on Butler. Dunn endured an underwhelming rookie season, averaging 3.8 points on 37.7 percent shooting in 78 games. But the Timberwolves coaching staff remained high on his potential.

As for LaVine, he appeared destined for stardom before suffering a left ACL tear — holy Rose flashback — in February. LaVine is said to be progressing well in his rehabilitation but has yet to resume strenuous basketball activities. Forman declined to set a timetable for his return.

More Top Picks Best Laptop Stand

LaVine, a two-time winner of the slam dunk contest, has shot 37.8 percent from 3-point range in three seasons and averaged 18.9 points before his injury.

The Bulls sold second-round pick Jordan Bell to the Warriors for a reported $3.5 million. Paxson said the wings they had targeted for that pick were gone.

An opening-day lineup of Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Paul Zipser, Bobby Portis and Robin Lopez isn’t out of the question. Wade as sixth man? In this new, rebuilding world, everything is possible.

[email protected]

Twitter @kcjhoop

http://embed.sendtonews.com/player2/embedcode.php?fk=AFi9PEcr&cid=4591