Jimmy Butler is about to be a very popular man. The small forward rejected a contract extension from the Chicago Bulls prior to the season beginning which has turned out to be a smart decisions considering he has set himself up for even more money than he would have gotten in the original deal. With the offseason approaching, Butler will be a restricted free agent and teams are lining up to offer him money.
According to Shams Charania of RealGM.com, the Los Angeles Lakers are already preparing to offer Butler a max contract in the offseason. Los Angeles is planning on chasing big names considering the have the salary cap space to do so and Butler will be one of the. The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks are also hoping to be suitors for the small forward. Any offer placed on Butler can be matched by the Chicago Bulls, so the team must be prepared to open their wallets this offseason. Butler has made it clear that he wants to remain in Chicago and reiterated that it was a smart idea to turn down the original four-year, $42 million contract.
"This is a place for me. I love playing with the guys that we have," Butler said, via USA Today. "They continue to bring in great, high character guys that fit the team role. I love it here. I'm happy to be here. Do I feel like I won the bet? It's a tie. I think we both won. I did my job and what I was supposed to do, and I think they are happy with where I am right now."
Butler's success alongside Derrick Rose should be reason enough to keep the forward around. The Bulls are hoping to keep most of the roster together in 2015. That means trades for Taj Gibson and Kirk Hinrich might not be as much of a priority as originally expected. Gibson has not been happy losing playing time to Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol, but as both players struggle with injuries, he has become more important than ever.
Gibson has proven he can be a x-factor for any team. He has a lot of value on the market and if the Bulls consider gaining a little cap space to help sign Butler, the power forward could get them the best return package. With Joakim Noah slumping in the postseason and Gasol dealing with injuries, Gibson is on full display which could catch the attention of several teams.
