Lakers and Bucks to make a "strong push" to sign Jimmy Butler

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/52306/20150509/los-angeles-lakers-news-rumors-chicago-bulls-superstar-jimmy-butler-to-get-max-offer-from-lakers.htm

Jimmy Butler has emerged as one of the young superstars in the league this season and it will not go unnoticed as he is expected to get a lot offers from teams in the offseason, including from the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to Shams Charania of RealGM, Butler, who averaged 20.0 points to go along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 65 regular-season games, will be one of the most coveted free agents after the 2014-15 NBA season even if the Chicago Bulls have the right to match any offer to keep the 25-year-old guard.

Sources indicated that the Lakers, who had their worst season in franchise history this year, will make a strong push to acquire Butler by offering a max contract in the offseason. The Lakers are set to make big moves this summer in the hope of finding another superstar to help Kobe Bryant in his pursuit of another title before retirement.

Aside from the Lakers, the Milwaukee Bucks are also planning to offer a lucrative deal to Butler this summer. Sources indicated the Bucks have a chance to acquire Butler, considering the fact that the 2015 Most Improved Player played college basketball at Marquette.

Chicago can easily keep Butler by matching the offer sheet, but the Bulls have been unpredictable over the past several years when it comes to salaries. They let go of key players, who got bigger offers from other teams.

The Bulls are determined to keep Butler, but they will have to break the bank and show willingness to spend big time for a player outside of Derrick Rose. Earlier in the season, the Bulls offered a four-year deal worth $40 million, but Butler turned it down, which created speculation that he will leave Chicago this summer.

The fourth-year guard clarified, though, that turning down the offer was just a business decision and that he is not demanding a big contract because he feels he is still not a superstar in the league.

"I'm not a star," Butler told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I'm a good role player on a really, really good team, a really, really deep team. I like being a role player. Star has never been next to Jimmy Butler's name. It never will be. I'll always be an under-the-radar dawg."

[Groin_pull]

JB ain't getting away from Chicago. Too bad, it'd be awesome to see him in a Bucks uniform.

[jsglow]

JB ain't getting away from Chicago. Too bad, it'd be awesome to see him in a Bucks uniform.

Totally agree.  The Bulls will match ANY offer. 

[77ncaachamps]

Lakers need him.

and i hate the lakers

[brewcity77]

Jimmy isn't going anywhere. Any article saying otherwise is likely just wasted bandwidth.

[WarriorFan]

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

I mean Thibs will be gone. Theres zero question regarding that.

[Groin_pull]

Lakers need him.

and i hate the lakers

Lots of teams need him. So what? Chicago can--and will--match any offer.

[Galway Eagle]

I mean Thibs will be gone. Theres zero question regarding that.

I agree but man if we make the finals, not even win, Chicago will riot for getting rid of Thibs

[chapman]

Max deal to stay is more than the max deal to go.  He'd have to want to get out (he doesn't) and/or have another serious contender and more attractive destination make a push.  If the latter situation exists (I don't think it does), it sure ain't to the Lakers or Bucks.

[Knight Commission]

The "really reallys" came from Buzz...and too his credit...the work ethic as well.

[314warrior]

The "really reallys" came from Buzz...and too his credit...the work ethic as well.

Not to take credit away from Buzz for helping to develop JB, but I think Jimmy always had the work ethic in him.

[GGGG]

I agree but man if we make the finals, not even win, Chicago will riot for getting rid of Thibs

No they won't.  He isn't some kind of beloved figure.

[Tugg Speedman]

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

+1

Don't under-estimate the Bulls ability to screw this up and drive him into the arms of another team.

Six-months ago the Bulls thought Jimmy was worth $40 mill over 4 years.  Jimmy turned it down.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/28/report-jimmy-butler-turned-down-four-year-40-million-extension-to-stay-with-bulls/

That is a little more than half a max contract.  

Now they say they will offer him a max contract.  Again, remember this is the Bulls/Reinsdorf, I will not believe it until JIMMY says they offered him a max contract.

[GGGG]

Do the Bulls have a history of screwing things like this up? 

They are an aging team in need of some youth.  They aren't dumping a budding young All Star who can defend multiple positions.

[lab_warrior]

+1

Don't under-estimate the Bulls ability to screw this up and drive him into the arms of another team.

Six-months ago the Bulls thought Jimmy was worth $40 mill over 4 years.  Jimmy turned it down.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/28/report-jimmy-butler-turned-down-four-year-40-million-extension-to-stay-with-bulls/

That is a little more than half a max contract. 

Now they say they will offer him a max contract.  Again, remember this is the Bulls/Reinsdorf, I will not believe it until JIMMY says they offered him a max contract.

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

Absolutely, the Bulls organization just SCREAMS stupid, and screwing things up…

[Tugg Speedman]

Absolutely, the Bulls organization just SCREAMS stupid, and screwing things up…

Ah, living in the past ....  Since 1998, however:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/788127-chicago-bulls-10-worst-personnel-moves-in-recent-team-history

Drafting Eddy Curry
Signing Eddie Robinson
Trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Signing Ron Mercer
Trading Ron Artest and Brad Miller for Jalen Rose
Drafting Marcus Fizer
Not Keeping Jay Williams off the Bike
Signing Ben Wallace
Choosing Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge
Letting Jamal Crawford Get Away

----------------

Again I'm not saying they WILL screw this up, I'm arguing this organization has a post 1998 history of screwing things up.

[Galway Eagle]

No they won't.  He isn't some kind of beloved figure.

I agree he isn't a beloved figure but a coach who brings the championship back to Chicago or even to the finals getting axed? I don't care if I'm the only one I'll riot by myself!

[GGGG]

I agree he isn't a beloved figure but a coach who brings the championship back to Chicago or even to the finals getting axed? I don't care if I'm the only one I'll riot by myself!

He won't be axed.  It will be a mutual parting.  Neither side is happy with the other.

[Tugg Speedman]

I agree he isn't a beloved figure but a coach who brings the championship back to Chicago or even to the finals getting axed? I don't care if I'm the only one I'll riot by myself!

Jerry Krause was considered a personnel genius when Jordan was winning all those championships.  He even won NBA executive of the year in 1987 and 1995.  Most long-time bulls fans think he was a joke.

Today he is a baseball scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Interesting that a two-time NBA executive cannot find work in basketball anymore.

[GGGG]

Jerry Krause was considered a personnel genius when Jordan was winning all those championships.  He even won NBA executive of the year in 1987 and 1995.  Most long-time bulls fans think he was a joke.

Today he is a baseball scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Interesting that a two-time NBA executive cannot find work in basketball anymore.

20 years ago.  Maybe come up with a more recent example?

[RushmoreAcademy]

Jimmy going to the Bulls was a dream come true. Really hoping he stays.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Ah, living in the past ....  Since 1998, however:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/788127-chicago-bulls-10-worst-personnel-moves-in-recent-team-history

Drafting Eddy Curry
Signing Eddie Robinson
Trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Signing Ron Mercer
Trading Ron Artest and Brad Miller for Jalen Rose
Drafting Marcus Fizer
Not Keeping Jay Williams off the Bike
Signing Ben Wallace
Choosing Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge
Letting Jamal Crawford Get Away

----------------

Again I'm not saying they WILL screw this up, I'm arguing this organization has a post 1998 history of screwing things up.

Half these things are such hindsight bias thoughts.
Eddie Curry was really good.

 The Elton brand trade wasn't the bad one, it was the Chandler trade later.

Wasn't the Bulls fault Fizer couldn't stay healthy

 Jay Williams? Cmon, can't blame the bulls for that one

Ben Wallace was a great signing st the time,

Thomas was a much better prospect than Aldridge

 and let's not pretend Crawford is some sort of world beater here.

Half of these things weren't preventable, the others just didn't work out. The biggest screw up is the one you didn't mention which was trading Chandler instead of Curry.

[BallBoy]

Ah, living in the past ....  Since 1998, however:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/788127-chicago-bulls-10-worst-personnel-moves-in-recent-team-history

Drafting Eddy Curry
Signing Eddie Robinson
Trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Signing Ron Mercer
Trading Ron Artest and Brad Miller for Jalen Rose
Drafting Marcus Fizer
Not Keeping Jay Williams off the Bike
Signing Ben Wallace
Choosing Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge
Letting Jamal Crawford Get Away

----------------

Again I'm not saying they WILL screw this up, I'm arguing this organization has a post 1998 history of screwing things up.

If this are their ten worst decisions then they are doing pretty well. You proved once again that you make outlandish comments with nothing to back them up.

They traded Jamal Crawford to the Knicks. Crawford has not been a super star with only 2 sixth man awards to his credit. No titles

Jay Williams was in a bike accident something he had explicitly called out as a cant do in his contract. The Bulls had no control of that and ended up waiving him and draft Kirk H.

Eddie Curry went onto have an 11yr career, though nothing special, and he played for four teams including win a NBA championship. If we count player misses they have far fewer than the Bucks.

Elton Brand was traded as there were rumors he planned to leave anyway.

Chandler has had a 14 yr pro career and took the Bulls to the playoffs in 2004. He has an NBA championship and Allstar game to his name.

I also noticed that none of these events occurred after 2006 so who is living in the past. I think you need to continue to clarify your position in that between 1998 and 2006 the Bulls made some questionable decisions.

Typed in my iPhone so I apologize for the typos.

[buckchuckler]

+1

Don't under-estimate the Bulls ability to screw this up and drive him into the arms of another team.

Six-months ago the Bulls thought Jimmy was worth $40 mill over 4 years.  Jimmy turned it down.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/28/report-jimmy-butler-turned-down-four-year-40-million-extension-to-stay-with-bulls/

That is a little more than half a max contract.  

Now they say they will offer him a max contract.  Again, remember this is the Bulls/Reinsdorf, I will not believe it until JIMMY says they offered him a max contract.

The perception that the bulls/ Reinsdorf are cheap is so wrong it is laughable. 

[IrwinFletcher]

Jerry Krause was considered a personnel genius when Jordan was winning all those championships.  He even won NBA executive of the year in 1987 and 1995.  Most long-time bulls fans think he was a joke.

Today he is a baseball scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Interesting that a two-time NBA executive cannot find work in basketball anymore.

For an out-of-towner, this might seem correct.  But if you know the Bulls and Jerry Krause story, you will know he acutally got his start in baseball and has long had a passion for the game.  He is in baseball not because he can't find work in basketball, but because he wants to be in Baseball.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Half these things are such hindsight bias thoughts.
Eddie Curry was really good.

 The Elton brand trade wasn't the bad one, it was the Chandler trade later.

Wasn't the Bulls fault Fizer couldn't stay healthy

 Jay Williams? Cmon, can't blame the bulls for that one

Ben Wallace was a great signing st the time,

Thomas was a much better prospect than Aldridge

 and let's not pretend Crawford is some sort of world beater here.

Half of these things weren't preventable, the others just didn't work out. The biggest screw up is the one you didn't mention which was trading Chandler instead of Curry.

so the Bulls get all of the credit for Jordan as if they knew exactly how amazing he'd be. But no blame for their busts.

At least the Pistons (for example) won with multiple completely different teams.

[The Lens]

Thibs is gone because Gar / Pax have serious ego issues. 

Butler to Bucks doesn't make sense.  Kris Middleton (Also a restricted FA) is a cheaper alternative but a suitable fill in for Jimmy for the Bucks.  The Bucks have other needs.  I'd rather pay Middleton 40-50 million than Jimmy the max. 

[MU82]

The Bulls' three biggest post-Jordan screw-ups (IMHO):

++ Hiring Krause's fishing buddy, Tim Floyd, to be their coach even though he had done nothing in his career to merit such an assignment. That singular move actually began the post-Jordan era because it caused Jordan to retire. Had the Bulls hired John Paxson as coach (he had been an assistant, an announcer and, of course, one of Jordan's favorite teammates), Jordan would have kept playing and the Bulls wouldn't have become instant embarrassments.

++ Krause believing that free agents would come flocking to Chicago just because the Bulls had money to spend. Other franchises also had money to spend and those franchises weren't totally bereft of talent as the Bulls were. So one after another after another (Duncan, Grant Hill, McGrady, Eddie Jones, etc) simply used the Bulls to get better offers from other teams, and the Bulls were left to spend their money on the likes of Ron Mercer and Jalen Rose.

++ Paxson's refusal to move up in the 2003 draft to get Wade, whom he thought he could land with the No. 7 overall pick.

Cleveland was gonna take LeBron, Detroit was gonna take Darko Milicic and Denver was gonna take Carmelo. Those were sure things. Toronto, at No. 4, was leaning toward Bosh but wasn't totally sold on him. Miami was the ultimate wild card; the Heat desperately needed a center and a point guard and Riley was said to be interested in Chris Kaman and T.J. Ford (among others), but he also was considering trading up or down. The Clippers, drafting 6th, liked Kaman.

When word started getting around that Toronto or Miami might take Wade, Paxson inquired about trading with the Raptors. Toronto was willing to swap picks -- but only if the Bulls threw in Donyell Marshall.

Marshall was never as good as he had been projected to be when drafted 9 years earlier and he had just turned 30, but he had become a good role player and Paxson didn't want to part with him. So Pax turned down the offer, the Heat ended up drafting Wade and the Bulls got Kirk Hinrich with the No. 7 pick (after the Clippers took Kaman).

The Bulls ended up trading Marshall to the Raptors only a few months later in a deal whose primary point was to get rid of Jalen Rose. Hinrich has been little more than a role player his entire career.

And Wade ... we all know what he went on to do for the Heat.

[DegenerateDish]

FWIW, when I talked to Butler, he indicated to me he was eventually going to re-up with the Bulls this offseason. Him turning down the deadline contract offer previously was just smart business, and he knew that.

[🏀]

Thibs should be gone and will be gone. Anyone who Thibs otherwise, you're wrong.

Sadly, the sheer amount of injuries has helped the Bulls more this season than Thibs. I like the guy, but he cannot help himself and it'll be the end of him. Reminds me of Bazz.

[jsglow]

Thibs is gone because Gar / Pax have serious ego issues. 

Butler to Bucks doesn't make sense.  Kris Middleton (Also a restricted FA) is a cheaper alternative but a suitable fill in for Jimmy for the Bucks.  The Bucks have other needs.  I'd rather pay Middleton 40-50 million than Jimmy the max. 

I like Middleton but putting Jimmy on the Bucks might make them the best team in the East within 2 years.  That said, it's not happening.

[#UnleashSean]

The Bulls' three biggest post-Jordan screw-ups (IMHO):

++ Hiring Krause's fishing buddy, Tim Floyd, to be their coach even though he had done nothing in his career to merit such an assignment. That singular move actually began the post-Jordan era because it caused Jordan to retire. Had the Bulls hired John Paxson as coach (he had been an assistant, an announcer and, of course, one of Jordan's favorite teammates), Jordan would have kept playing and the Bulls wouldn't have become instant embarrassments.

++ Krause believing that free agents would come flocking to Chicago just because the Bulls had money to spend. Other franchises also had money to spend and those franchises weren't totally bereft of talent as the Bulls were. So one after another after another (Duncan, Grant Hill, McGrady, Eddie Jones, etc) simply used the Bulls to get better offers from other teams, and the Bulls were left to spend their money on the likes of Ron Mercer and Jalen Rose.

++ Paxson's refusal to move up in the 2003 draft to get Wade, whom he thought he could land with the No. 7 overall pick.

Cleveland was gonna take LeBron, Detroit was gonna take Darko Milicic and Denver was gonna take Carmelo. Those were sure things. Toronto, at No. 4, was leaning toward Bosh but wasn't totally sold on him. Miami was the ultimate wild card; the Heat desperately needed a center and a point guard and Riley was said to be interested in Chris Kaman and T.J. Ford (among others), but he also was considering trading up or down. The Clippers, drafting 6th, liked Kaman.

When word started getting around that Toronto or Miami might take Wade, Paxson inquired about trading with the Raptors. Toronto was willing to swap picks -- but only if the Bulls threw in Donyell Marshall.

Marshall was never as good as he had been projected to be when drafted 9 years earlier and he had just turned 30, but he had become a good role player and Paxson didn't want to part with him. So Pax turned down the offer, the Heat ended up drafting Wade and the Bulls got Kirk Hinrich with the No. 7 pick (after the Clippers took Kaman).

The Bulls ended up trading Marshall to the Raptors only a few months later in a deal whose primary point was to get rid of Jalen Rose. Hinrich has been little more than a role player his entire career.

And Wade ... we all know what he went on to do for the Heat.

Wasn't Tracy Mcgrady pitching in like AA last year?

[Badgerhater]

Absolutely, the Bulls organization just SCREAMS stupid, and screwing things up…

The Chicago Jordans had a nice run.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

The Bulls would be fine without Thibs. They have a loaded roster. Thibs has some really odd personal issues and will wear out his welcome wherever he goes. He's a little like Majerus but with zero sense of humor. He's just an odd, odd guy.

Whoever said this is about Forman and Paxson's ego is totally wrong. They are trying to protect their players from injury and have extensive studies backing up their beliefs. Thibs doesn't care. The front office is running a business and trying to keep players with millions of dollars in contracts healthy.

[Pakuni]

The Bulls would be fine without Thibs. They have a loaded roster. Thibs has some really odd personal issues and will wear out his welcome wherever he goes. He's a little like Majerus but with zero sense of humor. He's just an odd, odd guy.

Whoever said this is about Forman and Paxson's ego is totally wrong. They are trying to protect their players from injury and have extensive studies backing up their beliefs. Thibs doesn't care. The front office is running a business and trying to keep players with millions of dollars in contracts healthy.

You're correct.
Thibs is a very good basketball coach who's prone to some bad decisions, and for whatever reason they've come in spades this year. This year has easily been his worst coaching job since coming to the Bulls.

[Pakuni]

The perception that the bulls/ Reinsdorf are cheap is so wrong it is laughable. 

Yep.
Sadly, it seems some around here get all their knowledge from listening to sports talk radio.

[GGGG]

The Bulls would be fine without Thibs. They have a loaded roster. Thibs has some really odd personal issues and will wear out his welcome wherever he goes. He's a little like Majerus but with zero sense of humor. He's just an odd, odd guy.

Yeah there is a reason he has been a very highly thought of assistant in the NBA since 1989, but didn't land a head job until 2010.

[MerrittsMustache]

Yeah there is a reason he has been a very highly thought of assistant in the NBA since 1989, but didn't land a head job until 2010.

Thibs would be an ideal coach for a team with a shrinking window that's been on the brink, but can't quite get over the hump. He can work his magic for 3-4 years and then everyone can move on.

[GGGG]

Thibs would be an ideal coach for a team with a shrinking window that's been on the brink, but can't quite get over the hump. He can work his magic for 3-4 years and then everyone can move on.

Another version of Scott Skiles....without all the children.

[RJax55]

Thibs would be an ideal coach for a team with a shrinking window that's been on the brink, but can't quite get over the hump. He can work his magic for 3-4 years and then everyone can move on.

Maybe, depends on how old the team is. Thibs can't manage minutes, so he would gas a veteran team even before the playoffs.

In the NBA, I think he would be good for a young team that has some talent, but a culture of losing. See an Orlando or Sacramento. However, I think three years would be the max I would keep him around.

College is the best place for Thibs, but I don't know if he could handle the other duties that college coaches have (beyond recruiting).

[StillAWarrior]

Jimmy is about to get paid!  Couldn't have happened to a better kid.  He bet on himself and he's going to win.  Big. 

[MU82]

The perception that the bulls/ Reinsdorf are cheap is so wrong it is laughable. 

The NBA has a salary cap and the Bulls, like most other teams (especially big market teams) spend right up to it.

Reinsdorf did help create the perception himself, though.

1. He groused publicly and repeatedly when he finally had to pay Jordan what Jordan was worth.

2. While other owners were tearing up contracts and giving All-Stars big raises, Reinsdorf was holding the likes of Pippen to his contract. I'm not saying Reinsdorf didn't have the right to do just that; I'm saying that's an example of how the perception was born.

3. He fought Jackson over salary every single year, even after Jackson had established himself as the gold standard of coaches. He and Krause made Jackson want out, and then tried to say the choice was Jackson's. It was so disingenuous.

4. And the biggie: He absolutely could have kept the Bulls mostly together after their second threepeat. He pays Jackson and makes Phil feel wanted, Jordan doesn't retire; of course, then he would have to pay Jordan big-time. And he'd have to spend to keep parts around Jordan. Instead, Reinsdorf just kept saying he didn't want to be the early-90s Celtics, who watched Bird, McHale and Parish get old. He thought free agents would jump at the chance to be Bulls and he could rebuild the team into a contender fairly quickly at a fraction of what Jordan would have cost him. But he erred tragically in his (and Krause's) ability to do that. So instead of a shot at a four-peat or a five-peat, he and Krause turned the franchise into a laughingstock for years.

Reinsdorf wasn't cheap. He willingly gave Ron Mercer $9 million per year, for crissakes. He just messed up by letting Krause win the showdown over Jackson/Jordan.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Thibs would be an ideal coach for a team with a shrinking window that's been on the brink, but can't quite get over the hump. He can work his magic for 3-4 years and then everyone can move on.

Doesn't that describe the Bulls to a T?

[StillAWarrior]

Doesn't that describe the Bulls to a T?

I think the implication is that after 3-4 years Thibs begins to wear out his welcome and loses his effectiveness.  And since he's been with the Bulls for five years...

[MerrittsMustache]

I think the implication is that after 3-4 years Thibs begins to wear out his welcome and loses his effectiveness.  And since he's been with the Bulls for five years...

Exactly.

[Sheriff]

Do the Bulls have a history of screwing things like this up? 

They are an aging team in need of some youth.  They aren't dumping a budding young All Star who can defend multiple positions.

The bud has blossomed.

[brewcity77]

I think the implication is that after 3-4 years Thibs begins to wear out his welcome and loses his effectiveness.  And since he's been with the Bulls for five years...

Just like Scott Skiles. 3 years in Phoenix, 4 in Chicago then fired mid season, 4 in Milwaukee then fired mid season. Guys like that should coach college. By the time the players get sick of them, they are graduating.

[mileskishnish72]

I think it's just great that he is going to be richly rewarded, but please, please, please don't let me have to see JFB in purple and gold.

[barfolomew]

I think it's just great that he is going to be richly rewarded, but please, please, please don't let me have to see JFB in purple and gold.

Don't worry.
Zero chance Jimmy signs with the 1985 LA Kings.

[Groin_pull]

Just like Scott Skiles. 3 years in Phoenix, 4 in Chicago then fired mid season, 4 in Milwaukee then fired mid season. Guys like that should coach college. By the time the players get sick of them, they are graduating.

Seems like Thibs is strictly an x's and o's guy. Has no interest in chasing 18 year old recruits across the country or attending a lot of booster banquets.

[brewcity77]

Seems like Thibs is strictly an x's and o's guy. Has no interest in chasing 18 year old recruits across the country or attending a lot of booster banquets.

Good point on Thibs. Recruiting isn't for everyone. Skiles, I think, would kill it at that level. Seems like he's driven to the point of near insanity, which is a quality most successful college coaches have when it comes to recruiting.

[GGGG]

Seems like Thibs is strictly an x's and o's guy. Has no interest in chasing 18 year old recruits across the country or attending a lot of booster banquets.

Yeah Thibs rarely leaves the Bulls practice center as it stands.  He'd rather be an assistant in the NBA and bide his time until another head gig comes along.