Jimmy Butler reiterates desire to stay with Bulls after Game 6 loss (Video)

Jimmy Butler has been in the center of trade rumors and his future in Chicago is in doubt, but the star forward expressed his desire to stay with the team.

Jimmy Butler has had a rumor-filled past few seasons for the Chicago Bulls, with massive trade speculation, and has managed to throw it all to the side during the team’s playoff run.

After the Bulls’ 22-point loss to the Celtics in Game 6, a series in which Chicago found themselves up 2-0 heading back to Chicago and ended up losing four straight.

In his postgame press conference after the loss, Butler was asked about the rumors of his departure from the Bulls, but also about his repeated hope to stay in Chicago after the season.

“I don’t know,” Butler said. “Im going to go home, eat some dinner and talk about it with my guys. Talk to them tomorrow, in a week, two weeks, I’ll make sure you’re the first person I let know.

Butler was asked by the reporter following his answer if he still wanted to be with the Bulls, and Butler nodded and responded “Yeah.”

The forward had been a piece of trade rumors, including one where he may have ended up with the same Celtics team that beat his Bulls in the opening round.

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Butler averaged 22 points and seven rebounds a game in the six-game series, and remained a leader for the team after Rajon Rondo fractured his thumb and couldn’t play for the remainder of the series. In the regular season, Butler averaged 24 points a game and six rebounds a game as part of Chicago’s new “Big Three” of himself, Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo.

Time will tell whether or not Butler remains with the only team he’s been on in his career, but the rumors will continue to swirl until something officially happens.