Jimmy Butler held a meeting with Bulls management on Monday to discuss the team’s direction, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Butler had only met with team officials briefly after the season, the tweet adds. Chicago isn’t looking to move the three-time All-Star swingman but will listen to any offers, Johnson wrote in an earlier story. Butler had been training in Los Angeles and will leave for Europe later in the month to train there, Johnson adds.
In other developments around the Central Division:
- Pistons assistant GM Pat Garrity interviewed for the Hawks GM position and will soon interview for the Bucks‘ GM opening, according to Tony Paul of the Detroit News. Atlanta chose Warriors executive Travis Schlenk. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy confirmed to Paul that Garrity will interview for the job formerly held by new Magic GM John Hammond.
- There are several more hurdles to clear before the Pistons can move into a new downtown arena next season, the Detroit Free Press reports. The Detroit City Council on Tuesday will vote on a package of agreements that would allow the move, while the lease agreement with Little Caesars Arena has not been finalized, the report continues. The league also has to give its final approval. The franchise hopes to have all the elements completed in time for the annual July board of governors meeting in Las Vegas, the report adds.
- Cavaliers GM David Griffin will seek a significant raise from owner Dan Gilbert, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reports. Griffin is making less than $2MM annually, according to Vardon’s sources. The two sides have not yet discussed financial terms on a new contract for Griffin, whose current contract expires at the end of the month. The Magic and Hawks were denied permission to interview Griffin for front-office openings and the Bucks appear to be moving away from Griffin in their GM search, Vardon adds.
- The Pacers will bring in six players for a pre-draft workout on Tuesday, according to the team’s website. That group includes Antonio Blakeney (LSU), Isaac Hamilton (UCLA), Zak Irvin (Michigan), Naz Long (Iowa State), Johnathan Motley (Baylor) and Rashawn Thomas (Texas A&M-CC). It’s a group of second-round hopefuls, headlined by Blakeney, a shooting guard ranked No. 85 by DraftExpress.
The Bulls should make EVERY effort to move Butler.
He isn’t a team leader, number 1 option, or guy outbuildings around. He also only has another few years in his contract before he hits free agency and gets max money.
He’ll be worth it for a team that already has a proven and established leader, not the Bulls.
Trade him ok draft night. It’ll make for a quick rebuild. If they don’t, they’ll regret it.
I’m a Bulls fan and I agree… While he’s a terrific player, he’s not good enough to be the #1 option on a championship team. lf you’re a team just trying to scrape by with the 8 seed he’s the perfect guy but he can’t carry like other guys… But wherever he goes he will be one of the best #2 option in the league only behind guys like Klay Thompson and Kevin Love. I hope the Celtics or the Suns want him so we get some Early Picks…
Good luck getting a player better than Butler
im a bulls fan but i agree. we wouldnt get a better player for him, but in a rebuild u rarely do. we would get the cap space plus a young player to build around.
I would trade Love for Butler and ship JR Smith’s contract for Butler in a heartbeat. Get a better defender for one but clear up cap space to keep the “bench” we have long term and look for a cheap option at the 5 like GS does. If Dwight Howard can be had for a second round pick it less, assuming Hoops Rumors reports last trade deadline are true, I’d try to add him too.
The Bulls will get multiple young players (potential superstars) in a deep and extremely talented draft class.
Jimmy is good, but this is the max Jimmy you’re going to get.
And with “max” Jimmy, all the Bulls are getting in return is a team that barely limps into the playoffs, in a professional sport where half the teams (a beyond generous amount) make the playoffs (which is a joke, in and of itself).
How is Detroit planning on funding this new arena? I doubt the team pays for it. The city is broke.
Probably stealing more from the productive and hardworking middle class. What huge liberal cities do best.
Cavs have to find a way to dump JR Smith and Iman Shumpert. Straight salary dumps. Probably have to do the same with Frye. 7M is too much for his role.
Retain Korver. Attempt to bring in JJ Reddick and Serge Ibaka and insert them in the starting line-up.
5 – Ibaka
4 – Love
3 – James
2 – Reddick
1 – Irving
Bench FAs – Mo Speights, Korver