Chicago Bulls will match any Jimmy Butler offer

The Bulls aren’t going to let their rising star Jimmy Butler get away from Chicago

Jimmy Butler has been the most improved player in the NBA this year and will probably receive the award aptly named after it. There is also a good chance he could be named as a reserve in this year’s All-Star game. Butler on the year has averaged 20.6 points per game to go with six rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Butler has quietly morphed into one of the better players in the NBA and with his restricted free agency coming up this offseason, he will be paid as such.

There’s just one problem for the multitude of teams that are sure to be interested in the product out of Marquette; Chicago plans on matching all offers.

So, when July 1 rolls around and free agency begins. A team will offer Butler he likes, it might even be Chicago, but when Butler puts ink to paper, Chicago will match and that will be the end of that.

With the injury concerns of Derrick Rose, the Bulls need a star they can rely on, and Butler appears to be the man in Chicago to join Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah.

Through strong defense and the fact they play in the weak Eastern Conference, the Bulls are strong favorites to represent the east in the NBA finals. Keeping Butler long-term, can make them favorites in the east for many years ahead.

[H/T: thescore]

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