Jimmy Butler has been mistreated by the Chicago Bulls in recent months. Now and again we keep seeing Jimmy Butler’s name in trade hypotheticals. Even though they’re hypotheticals, you don’t see other team leaders in trade talk. Do you see Kawhi Leonard in hypotheticals? No you don’t. The Bulls organisation have left Butler flapping in the wind in my opinion.
But the Bulls are finally showing open communication as Butler represented Chicago in the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery. In a recent back and forth with ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Jimmy Butler saw where the conversation was going and didn’t waste time.
Friedell: What question? You want to be in Chicago. You told me last month that you wanted to be in Chicago for the future?
Butler: Of course. I love the city of Chicago. I’ve played here my entire career. Let’s not get that misunderstood. I love the guys that we have on the roster. We continue to bring in high-character guys. I’m learning with [Fred] Hoiberg. I’m not perfect, I’ll tell you that. But I’m ready. I think I have to be able to help this team win games, though, that’s for sure.
Friedell: Now I know what you thought I was going to say before. So I’ll just ask and you can answer however you want. Do you think when training camp starts this fall that you’re still going to be on the Bulls?
Butler: Yeah, I think so. I definitely do. I do think that with the year that we did have last season — it’s unacceptable. So you have to then, truth be told, you got to look at everything. I didn’t do my job, so truth be told, can I help this team win? That’s the question that’s brought up. And I can’t be mad at that. You can use whatever excuse you want to use, but we didn’t make the playoffs. That’s all anybody sees and that’s rightfully so. So do I think I’m going to be here? Yeah, I think so. But that’s just me thinking.
I will be surprised if the Bulls do nothing in the offseason. It’s a rare occurrence that we don’t see the Chicago Bulls in the Playoffs so it’s clear that they need to do something and trading Jimmy Butler is nowhere near a positive move in my opinion. He is the leader and will continue to be the leader for the next few years.
