During a segment on ESPN Radio this week (audio link via Aldo Soto), Ryen Russillo passed along an interesting story he had heard about Jimmy Butler and the Bulls’ front office, explaining why the star forward doesn’t trust the team’s decision-makers. According to Russillo, after Butler passed on signing a rookie-scale extension in 2014, Chicago’s front office threatened to reduce his minutes to diminish his value heading into restricted free agency. As Russillo tells it, Tom Thibodeau stepped in to make sure that didn’t happen, and the Bulls and Butler ultimately got a deal done in free agency, but Butler’s mistrust of the team’s front office has endured, and has extended to current head coach Fred Hoiberg as well.
Asked today about Russillo’s story, Butler said that he doesn’t really remember “what went on” during extension negotiations, adding that it happened a long time ago and that it’s no one’s business anyway (Twitter link via Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com). While that’s not exactly a confirmation of the report, it’s hardly a strong denial either, which suggests there may be some truth to Russillo’s account.
Here are a few more Bulls notes:
- When he was specifically asked today about his relationship with Bulls executives Gar Forman and John Paxson, Butler insisted that it’s “good,” per Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. “They’re my bosses,” Butler said. “We talk like men if I have a problem [or] if they have a problem, we talk like we’re supposed to. I think it’s very professional.”
- There’s a “growing sense among league insiders” that a Butler trade may be the best course of action for the Bulls’ future, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. That’s not the same thing as the Bulls themselves sharing that view, but Kyler notes that Chicago sources admit the team is at something of a crossroads. As Kyler writes, the young players the Bulls anticipated would evolve into complementary players around Butler haven’t developed as the team hoped so far.
- With this year’s trade deadline just over three weeks away, Mark Schanowski of CSNChicago.com takes a closer look at some of the Bulls’ trade options.
- According to Hoiberg, rookie guard Denzel Valentine will remain in the D-League with the Windy City Bulls for the team’s next three games, and will be re-evaluated by the NBA club after that (link via Nick Friedell). Chicago’s D-League affiliate is in action this afternoon in Long Island.
What a mess Paxons created. If they trade Butler, what happens next? They go into the next few drafts looking for a Jimmy Butler. It makes no sense. But the again look at the Bulls front office and their bonehead coaching staff.
They need to ask for Jaylen brown Demetrius Jackson Terry razier and those picks 2017 & 2018 they just get back two point guards that can be a starters but with Jaylin brown I think that’s the next Jimmy Butler BUT before they do any rebuilt they need to fire the front office
The problem with Butler isn’t with his play. It’s with his ego. He went from a humble player to an absolute egomaniac, who chases players out of town, and proclaims himself as “the man.” He also freely admits that he “likes drama.” It’s obvious that he isn’t making any of his teammates better, and that no one is looking at him as a leader. He’s a clubhouse cancer. Period. I’m a Bulls fan, and as much as I’d like to keep him, I just see too much immaturity. Him, the front office, and the coach need to leave town.
So is it his fault really if the front office is complete garbage, and the roster doesn’t fit around him? I don’t see what you see in Butler. Dude is an elite 2 way player. I also don’t think you can ever queston his effort level, from what I’ve seen from him over his career. It Mike end up making sense to move him for a really big return, but I’m trying as hard as possible to build around him before I might consider taking a really big return
No one’s questioning Butler’s talent. The issue is his maturity and leadership. Can he carry the Bulls to a deep playoff run given the roster and constant chemistry issues?
We’ve seen the answer to that. Butler is no LeBron, Harden or Curry. So the Bulls have to do what’s best for the Bulls: double down and rebuild.
I’d take Butler 1000 times out of 1000 times over James Harden
Dumping Paxson and Forman is the best course of action the Bulls could take.
Let’s bench our first rounder in favor of Grant, Rondo, and MCW. Sounds about par for the course for this front office. Dude scores 19 points, gets sick, and isn’t allowed to get back into the rotation.
Oh, and I’m shocked at how that Butler negotiation went down three years ago. This front office is an absolute joke and wouldn’t be employed in any other industry with the way they’ve performed at their job, not to mention the way they consistently treat employees of their organization.
we will take him here with the lakers haha
Spurs bulls trade
Spurs get jimmy butler
Bulls get danny green, patty mills and 2017 first round pick
Lol
Lol clearly a Spurs fan by both your name and your one sided trade idea
He has made some bad ones for the spurs tok. No offense to him…he tries. He just doesn’t seem to do well in trade proposals lol
Not a chance.
I’ve seen that story that was reported about Thibs, Butler, the Front office, and it just can’t be true. The Tony Snell thing is crazy. That being said, these are the same people that got rid of Phil and Pippen, pissing off Jordan enough to retire and come back for another organization, and all 3 having severed relationships with the Bulls until recently, or that might still be a situation b/c I’m not really entirely aware of everything with that…
I’ve been advocating for the same rotation since the offseason, and haven’t seen it tried even once. Not saying it would guaranteed work, but it’s worth taking a look at, and would hopefully bring more balance to each unit, especially with at least a little more spacing. Fred Hoiberg is clueless as a head coach. Only thing he ever changes in the rotation is who the starting PG is…you’d think he’d at least make an attempt to figure things out. I will continue to say it; Their rotations need to change. Their guards have been terrible. They’re getting nothing from anyone besides Butler, Wade, Taj Gibson, McDermott, and Lopez…as well as Taj has played, he needs to come off the bench. They need more balance on the floor, and to at least try to create a little spacing. Valentine, Wade, Butler, McDermott, Lopez…Taj, Rondo, Mirotic, Grant, MCW, Portis, Canaan. Those last 3 in certain situations. MCW can guard multiple positions. They need a shooter at the guard or wing spots pretty desperately. Again, I’m not saying it will definitely work, but I think they at least have to try something different
Valentine is a D leaguer at this point of his career and you want him to start at the 1? That’s not even his natural position
Has played well at times when he has had some playing time. Also, it would be more of a positionless lineup to start out, utilizing versatility. The objective would obviously be to add more spacing. It’s pretty clear that Rondo and the other non shooting guards that have been terrible as well, and Butler and Wade shouldnt see the floor together as much. Put Rondo around their only shooters, and that could also help. Taj would be the backup 5 in that scenario, which would help defensively next to Mirotic…
I can’t argue with that. The fact that they haven’t bought out Rondo yet blows my mind. You’re right, it’s currently a poorly run organization and they might as well give the rookie a chance.
I actually am fine with rondo on the roster, but I’d rather him lead the 2nd unit around the shooters you do have. Things might be a little more balanced out there with a better rotation. Try to maximize guys’ skillset, which is especially important when you’re lacking in certain areas on the roster
He’s a D leaguer because he inexplicably hasn’t been afforded an extended opportunity yet. You’d think the Bulls would try to find a way to get this guy involved, especially for a team lacking any semblance of a three point shot. They’d rather play Grant/MCW/Rondo over their first rounder. Don’t rely on GarPax’s judgement/opinion on talent. It’s flawed.
Once the bulls traded Rose they should have traded Butler, too, and went full rebuild. They should have never signed Wade or Rondo, either. Gar should have known this was a recipe for disaster given the young coach he chose. Then throw in the fact that Gar’s first round pick is now in the D League and you’ll come to the conclusion that the Bulls need a new GM. It’s a train wreck.