Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade poised to stay with Chicago Bulls
Jimmy Butler has no intention to be traded this offseason, contrary to an earlier report that the All-Star forward and Chicago Bulls are headed for a breakup. Butler and the Bulls crashed out of the 2017 NBA Playoffs Friday after losing their first-round series to the Boston Celtics.
Prior to February's NBA Trade Deadline, the Boston Celtics and the Bulls went back-and-forth on a possible Jimmy Butler trade but couldn't come to terms on a satisfactory deal. In fact, the teams went through a similar process before last year's NBA Draft night when the Bulls reportedly wanted a package of two lottery picks via Brooklyn Nets (2016 and 2017), Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley. At the time, Boston felt Chicago's asking price was too steep and wanted to re-visit the trade a year later.
On Friday, The Chicago Sun Times quoted a front-office source as saying that "the Bulls already have reached out to have a separate sit-down to discuss their plans and to assure Butler that they’re fully committed to him." The report added that Butler has already let the team know that he wants to stay put in Chicago for many years. “That’s his first, second and third choice. He’s told teammates the same thing," said a source close to the two-way wing.
The latest report contradicts an earlier report from The Ringer which claimed that Butler was “as good as gone” from Chicago before the start of the next season. Butler has a Player Option worth US$19.8 million (AU$25.9 million) for the 2019-20 season and would likely opt to capitalise on the NBA's rising salary cap. It's the length of Butler's contract that made him a desirable trade target for the Celtics among other teams.
Chicago Bulls could pick up Rajon Rondo's Team Option
Rondo signed a two-year, US$27 million (AU$35 million) contract last summer but only US$3 million (AU$3.9 million) of his 2017-18 salary will be guaranteed if the Bulls release the point guard before June 30. Wade, on the other hand, owns a Player Option for the 2017-18 season worth US$23.8 million (AU$31.3 million). As of this writing, there's no guarantee that Rondo and Wade remain in the Windy City. After Chicago fell to a 105-83 Game 6 victory at home Friday, ESPN reported that both Butler and Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg want to bring the entire band back together next year, including veterans Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.
"He (Rondo) was great. The highs and lows that we had this season, he found a way to continue to battle through that and play his best basketball when it mattered most. I love Rondo. I love coaching him. I love everything about the kid. We played an exciting style of basketball. A fun style of basketball to watch, a fun style of basketball to coach. And Rajon was responsible for a lot of that," Hoiberg told reporters after the game.
Jimmy Butler, voted into the starting unit of the 2017 NBA All-Star game, averaged a career-high tally of 23.9 points, 5.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds in his sixth NBA season. During the six-game playoff series against the Celtics, Butler averaged 22.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
