If Jimmy Butler was not hearing the trade rumors surrounding his name before, he will certainly start to hear them now. There is no doubting the shooting guard's importance to the Chicago Bulls, but after the two sides failed to negotiate a contract extension, Butler could be the next on the trade block come the mid-season deadline. While Butler denies that he is chasing money and intends to remain in Chicago, denying the team's offer does not put him in a good place.
When it came down to the deadline, the Bulls offered Butler a deal that was around four years. According to KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, the two sides are still $2 million apart on an annual salary and Butler denied the offer from the Bulls. That means he will become a restricted free agent in the summer and now a likely trade target. Butler attempted to set the record straight noting that he is not chasing money and fully intends to remain with the Bulls for a long-term.
"People say I'm chasing money when that's not it - yeah, get your mic closer - that's not it, because I'm going to be in Chicago,'' Butler said, via the Chicago Sun Times. "I'm not worried about it. I say that with a smile on my face because I know that for a fact. We'll resume [negotiations] in July. Yeah, [the deadline is] over with, but this is still home, these are still my guys. This is the team I want to be on, this is the city I want to represent. So I'm happy, and I'll be happy for a long time.''
One of the things that likely played a role in Butler denying the offer was the upcoming TV deal that will give teams more money to work with in the salary cap. That is the reason LeBron James signed a small contract with Cleveland. He will be able to get more money in the long-term. Butler could be eyeing the same thing, but history shows that the Bulls do not handle this sort of thing well.
Chicago was in a similar situation last year with Luol Deng. He rejected their contract offer at the start of the season and was promptly traded mid-year despite his value to the roster. Butler holds the same weight as Deng did and could find himself being sent off.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau is a big supporter of Butler and what he brings to the team. The swingman has been crucial to the offense in the wake of Derrick Rose's injuries the past two seasons. The Bulls cannot afford to let him go. Considering Butler is only going to be a restricted free agent next summer, there is some flexibility which makes a trade not exactly a priority. However, if the Bulls can get something of quality in return, they could be enticed to make the move.
