While the Chicago Bulls are focused on competition for a championship, Jimmy Butler’s free agency looms.
A restricted free agent in the summer of 2015, the Bulls, like every other team in the league with a member of the 2011 NBA Draft, have a chance to get a deal done with Butler prior to the October 31 deadline and as each day passes, it looks more likely the Bulls are going to have to dip in their pockets to satisfy the 2nd-team All-Defense wing.
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According to Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago, Butler could demand anything north of $10 million dollars come negotiation time.
"Should the Bulls give Butler what he wants now without risking another team making him a big-money offer in the summer? And exactly how much is Butler asking for?While neither side wants to negotiate publicly, it’s fair to assume that Butler would be looking for somewhere around what close friend and former Bulls teammate Luol Deng received from the Miami Heat this summer — around $10 million a season. Walters may want even more than that given that Butler is just 25 years old and made the All-NBA defensive second team last season. Deng is a two-time All-Star and a better all-around player, but he has a lot more NBA mileage on his legs than Butler."
Depending on the develop of Butler’s shooting touch, a $10 million-plus price tag could either be a huge steal or a colossal overpay — the cap leap may make it not matter regardless.
Already one of the five or six best wing defenders in the NBA, Butler’s jump shot has been inconsistent since becoming a rotation player. In 2012-13, Butler shot 38 percent from three. The following season — his attempts per game increased — Butler shot 28 percent from three. Alongside Derrick Rose and a frontcourt of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, it’s imperative that Butler knocks down shots on a consistent basis. If he doesn’t, life gets harder for those around him.
With the deadline 21 days away, it’ll be interesting to see how negotiations play out between Butler and the Bulls. If the Bulls have their future in mind, it’d be best to hash something out now because if he hits the open market, he’ll definitely get overpaid … like every other marquee restricted free agent that exists.
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