Jimmy Butler turns down Chicago Bulls "Hometown Discount" Contract Extension....

[Dawson Rental]

I love Jimmy but he can't shoot. I hope JB got his shot in order in the offseason because he's an offensive liability since he can't consistently hit a J. JB can't even be like Bruce Bowen was for the Spurs because BB could hit the 3 with a fair amount of consistency and play lockdown D. I don't doubt JB's work ethic, so over time, he can improve his shot but the Bulls don't need to give him a max deal.

An interesting fact about Bruce Bowen.  Prior to his joining the Spurs, he was part of a trade to Chicago to even out salaries.  As soon as he became a Bull, he was cut.  As his career caught on with the Spurs, I often wondered how he would have done with the Bulls, if the Bulls had only given him a shot.

[ErickJD08]

Jimmy is 5 years younger and has significantly better stats both on a per game and per minute played basis.  Not sure that comparison holds.

On a per minute basis, they are actually very comparable... look it up

[Nevada233]

If Jimmy Butler is your best player, you aren't a title contender.

Thisssssss Is true..........

[mr.MUskie]

MINNEAPOLIS — Before making his season debut and sinking the winning free throws with 0.2 seconds left, Jimmy Butler noticed a reporter moving a tape recorder closer to his face.

"Yeah, get your mic closer," Butler said. "People say I'm chasing money when that's not it. Because I'm going to be in Chicago. I say that with a smile on my face because I know that for a fact. We'll resume (negotiations) back in July."

The Friday night deadline for Butler's rookie contract extension came and went. Butler passed on what sources said was a multiyear deal averaging $11 million. Butler will be a restricted free agent next summer, and general manager Gar Forman said Friday the Bulls are confident they'll keep him.

"We left off (talks) on great terms — not just good, great," Butler said. "And our goal is still the same, and that's to win a championship.

"This is still home. These are still my guys. This is the team I want to be on. This is the city I want to represent."

[esotericmindguy]

MINNEAPOLIS — Before making his season debut and sinking the winning free throws with 0.2 seconds left, Jimmy Butler noticed a reporter moving a tape recorder closer to his face.

"Yeah, get your mic closer," Butler said. "People say I'm chasing money when that's not it. Because I'm going to be in Chicago. I say that with a smile on my face because I know that for a fact. We'll resume (negotiations) back in July."

The Friday night deadline for Butler's rookie contract extension came and went. Butler passed on what sources said was a multiyear deal averaging $11 million. Butler will be a restricted free agent next summer, and general manager Gar Forman said Friday the Bulls are confident they'll keep him.

"We left off (talks) on great terms — not just good, great," Butler said. "And our goal is still the same, and that's to win a championship.

"This is still home. These are still my guys. This is the team I want to be on. This is the city I want to represent."

Good for him, he's worth more than 11M. I've read that he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and can score you 15 a night. He's smart, doesn't take bad shots and stays out of trouble. Pay the man.

[g0lden3agle]

On a per minute basis, they are actually very comparable... look it up

Jimmy per 36 minutes last year: 12.2 Pts, 4.6 Rebs, 2.4 Ast, 1.8 Stl
Thabo's Career: 8.9, 5.7, 2.3, 1.6

Teams are going to pay for the points vs. giving up that extra rebound per game.

PER: Advantage Jimmy (14.2 vs 10.8 Career numbers)

Win Shares Per 48: Advantage Jimmy (.144 vs .09 Career Numbers)

Once you factor in you can lean on Jimmy to give you 35+ minutes per game the gap grows even larger.  Jimmy's going to get his pay day next season. 

[w0bbie]

Thoughts from Zach Lowe:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-contract-extensions-klay-thompson-warriors-jazz-spurs/

"As for the other defense-first wing stud who couldn't agree on a deal, the Bulls are hoping the same "they'll match any offer" fear works as a deterrent in Jimmy Butler's free agency. Butler played most of last season with turf toe, and nearly all of it without Derrick Rose to free him up for easier looks. He's a ferocious defender at both wing positions, and if he shoots better this season, some team with max-level cap room might be tempted into lavishing a huge offer sheet on Butler.

The Bulls would surely match it, since they'll have no cap space to replace Butler. They were smart to try to coax Butler into a cheaper team-friendly deal now, holding firm, and banking on Butler's restricted status to dampen his free-agency market in the summer. Butler was smart to tell Chicago to screw off, and play it out. He could also go the qualifying offer route if Chicago proves intractabull (see what I did there?), but even when teams have a clear edge in the restricted free-agency stalemate, they tend to offer a fair deal in the end. Eric Bledsoe got his five-year, $70 million deal in August after an endless standoff with the Suns; the threat of Bledsoe following the Monroe model might have pushed Phoenix over the edge."

[GGGG]

OK that Zach Lowe article makes sense.  So the Bulls don't have a huge incentive to offer a "market" deal right now.  But signing him as a restricted FA doesn't have cap implications.