The Chicago Bulls have very high expectations entering the 2014 season. Derrick Rose is healthy and coming off a successful stint with Team USA playing in the FIBA World Cup. They added Pau Gasol to the starting lineup which helps considering the Bulls missed out on trading for Kevin Love. They also missed out on signing Carmelo Anthony. The Bulls might have wrapped up a quiet free agency period despite all of the rumors surrounding the team, but that does not mean they are not focused on getting a few deals done for the future.
Jimmy Butler is now the priority of the Bulls. The small forward survived an offseason of trade rumors as his name continued to be brought up in the potential deal for Love and now he is looking to get a nice contract extension to stay in Chicago for the future. The Bulls have until Oct. 31 to get a deal done with the forward or he will head off to the land of restricted free agency this summer. Butler notes he has no intentions of leaving as the team begins contract talks.
"I want to be here," Butler said, via ESPNChicago.com. "I think the Bulls want me here. So however long it takes, as long as we get it worked out. Basketball is my main focus, not really the contract situation. They definitely are [working on it]. I think we're really good right now, moving in the right direction. But that's between them. I just got to be with my teammates and whatever I do between myself and that basket will handle that a lot easier."
There is some concern about a deal not getting done for Butler. Chicago has been notoriously slow on these types of things. They attempted to negotiate a deal with Luol Deng several times before being forced to trade him at the mid-season deadline. They waited until the last possible minute to get Taj Gibson under contract two years ago. Butler is hoping the same approach is not taken with him.
"I don't really think about it too much," Butler said. "I grew up without money. I think I'll be all right for a couple more days. I just play basketball. That's what I know. And if you play basketball the right way, the contract situation will handle itself."
A deal for Butler could eventually force a trade of another player during the season. The Bulls have an abundance of big men on the roster as rumors circulate that Nikola Mirotic or Gibson could be traded after the addition of Gasol. It is highly unlikely that Chicago makes any more deals right now, remaining focused on a new deal for Butler instead.
