TNT debate on Jimmy

[LloydsLegs]

Barkley and Reggie Miller spending most of the Bulls-Knicks game debating just how good Jimmy is.  both saying that he deserves to be All Star, and is a top two two way two guard (too many twos?).

Miller really showing lots of love, Charles a bit more reserved.

[MuMark]

Charles "You can't pay everybody".....well here is some news for Charles...somebody is going to pay him .....if not the Bulls it will be somebody else

Tonight's line through 3 quarters....28 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists....3 steals and a block

[79Warrior]

Barkley and Reggie Miller spending most of the Bulls-Knicks game debating just how good Jimmy is.  both saying that he deserves to be All Star, and is a top two two way two guard (too many twos?).

Miller really showing lots of love, Charles a bit more reserved.

Charles thinks he is an excellent player. His point is he does not deserve a max deal.

[mu03eng]

If he doesn't who does?  What dozen players who are going to be free agents would you rather have to justify not giving him a max deal?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I'd rather give jimmy a max contract then Rose.

[mumagz84]

They debated back and forth tonight on whether he deserved a max contract and all agreed he is an all star.  

Jimmy's line tonight - 35 points, 11 of 21 from the floor with four 3-pointers, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals in 45 minutes of play.  (not to mention, 9-10 from the line)

He will definitely get a max contract IMO.

[brandx]

I'd rather give jimmy a max contract then Rose.

Rose isn't up for a new contract.

[Groin_pull]

Speaking of TNT, watching the Golden State-OKC game now. It's what makes the NBA so amazing. Incredible performances from KD and Curry so far and a playoff-level crowd in Oakland. Check it out.

[RushmoreAcademy]

Curry is playing on another level. That guy is looking unreal.
As a Bulls fan I'm praying that Jimmy stays. I don't know how that could work, but I hope they find a way.

[MerrittsMustache]

Curry is playing on another level. That guy is looking unreal.
As a Bulls fan I'm praying that Jimmy stays. I don't know how that could work, but I hope they find a way.

To sign Jimmy to a max deal, the Bulls may end up having to move Taj ($8.25M cap hit) for some cheaper pieces and/or picks. They have Mirotic who will IMO end up as a better player than Taj anyway, plus he's 5 years younger.

[mileskishnish72]

JFB would look great in green, with Jae.

[muhoops1]

He's put the Bulls in an unenviable position.  Public sentiment is going to be give him Max $.  Don't think they can pay everybody.  Just hope he goes to a decent team that stresses D.  He's a complete player now.  Impressive.

[Groin_pull]

JFB would look great in green, with Jae.

Nah, I wouldn't wish Boston on Jimmy. I like him too much.

[MU82]

Just a month ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Jimmy deserved a max deal. But as others have said, if he doesn't deserve one, who does? He has made himself an elite player, and I don't freely toss around a word like "elite."

Unless something bad happens -- serious injury, inexplicable loss of confidence, etc. -- it's hard to imagine that some team won't reward him handsomely.

The nice thing about Butler is that you know he will play hard no matter what. He doesn't know how to coast. He is a great team player and leader. He is a good guy who has never had off-the-court issues. He is not a whiner or a diva. There is no "drama" surrounding Butler. He is all basketball.

The fact that he has become a great scorer is amazing and unexpected, but he can help a team win even if he has a bad shooting night because of his defense and all the little things he does.

In other words, he is pretty close to "a sure thing."

It sounds ludicrous, but I too would give him a max deal before I'd give one to a player like Rose or Carmelo. (I know they already got theirs; just using them as examples.)

[GGGG]

Speaking of TNT, watching the Golden State-OKC game now. It's what makes the NBA so amazing. Incredible performances from KD and Curry so far and a playoff-level crowd in Oakland. Check it out.

What frustrates me about college basketball fans who "can't stand the NBA" is that I don't think most of them have actually watched the NBA in years.  The quality of play at the highest levels is really incredible.  The league has really never been better.

[MUfan12]

What frustrates me about college basketball fans who "can't stand the NBA" is that I don't think most of them have actually watched the NBA in years.  The quality of play at the highest levels is really incredible.  The league has really never been better.

And college basketball has never been worse. Watch the two back to back, and the NBA is a far more entertaining product. The quality of play has improved dramatically.

Been fighting this fight in MKE for years. Thankfully, this Bucks team has started to change a few minds.

[RushmoreAcademy]

The idea of who deserves a max deal is such an interesting thing.  I think there's going to be a swing where a lot of players start to fall into this category when contract time comes around.  It's probably fairly tough to be a GM in the NBA today.  There is money to be had in a lot of different markets now, and players aren't necessarily going to just head to LA or NY anymore.

[LloydsLegs]

Just a month ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Jimmy deserved a max deal. But as others have said, if he doesn't deserve one, who does? He has made himself an elite player, and I don't freely toss around a word like "elite."

Unless something bad happens -- serious injury, inexplicable loss of confidence, etc. -- it's hard to imagine that some team won't reward him handsomely.

The nice thing about Butler is that you know he will play hard no matter what. He doesn't know how to coast. He is a great team player and leader. He is a good guy who has never had off-the-court issues. He is not a whiner or a diva. There is no "drama" surrounding Butler. He is all basketball.

The fact that he has become a great scorer is amazing and unexpected, but he can help a team win even if he has a bad shooting night because of his defense and all the little things he does.

In other words, he is pretty close to "a sure thing."

It sounds ludicrous, but I too would give him a max deal before I'd give one to a player like Rose or Carmelo. (I know they already got theirs; just using them as examples.)

It is amazing.  JFB has grown from being a defensive specialist to a complete offensive player.  He can post you up, hit the open 3, drive on guys, play in transition (love seeing him get the rebound and go coast to coast b4 the other guys react) and get to the line 10 times a game.  And he is an excellent passer.  Worked his ass off in the off seasons and it has paid off.

[patso]

How did Jimmy Butler get this good?

[ttheisen]

What frustrates me about college basketball fans who "can't stand the NBA" is that I don't think most of them have actually watched the NBA in years.  The quality of play at the highest levels is really incredible.  The league has really never been better.

So true.  The sophistication of the defenses, coupled with the incredible offensive execution is great to watch.  Not every team, all 82 games, but pretty much every night there is a match up that is a ton of fun to watch.

[Silkk the Shaka]

How did Jimmy Butler get this good?

Buzz, pure and simple.

(Just trolling for Chicos' 20,000th post)

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Jimmy Butler is probably worth the amount of what a max contract is but Lebron, Durant, Anthony Davis, etc. are worth more than a max contract.  However, they are limited to that max contract by the CBA to prevent the NBA middle class from disappearing.  Endorsements are where these "Super Max" players get paid.

So while I don't put Jimmy on the superstar level of a Lebron, he's having an All-Star year that if he can carry forward is good enough to be a #2 on a title contender.  Someone will pay him, whether it's the Bulls or not.

[jsglow]

I'd rather give jimmy a max contract then Rose.

This.  I was 'done' with Rose during the playoffs a couple of years ago when he had already been cleared by the doctors for 60 days but couldn't put on his uniform because his 'muscle memory' hadn't yet returned.  A flu bug went through the team and guys were blowing chunks into a garbage can along the bench and then re-entering the game to soldier on.  But Rose couldn't dress and spell them.  Jimmy was playing 48 minutes EVERY night.  Rose is a hairy wet cat.  Jimmy, a Warrior.

[Lennys Tap]

I love Wesley and I love Dwyane, but at this moment JFB is MU's best former player in the NBA.

[ThatDude]

With the success JFB is having in the NBA makes me wonder...what the heck happen to Lazar??!!!