Rumor Sources: Jimmy Butler plans to pursue shorter-term offer sheets

Woj has said that Butler refuses to consider returning to Chicago.

 

I think this is fair. More to the point, I feel like I'm unable to make the argument that the Bulls have a legit chance to knock off either the Cavs or GSW as currently constituted. The window may have closed, and I wouldn't blame JB for bolting.

 

Woj is a good source, but he's far from the best source.

And as always, it's best to wait for outcomes. Anyone claiming doom and gloom is warranted right now isn't being intellectually honest. Could happen. Could not happen too.

 

More likely the Bulls will salary dump one of Taj or Noah, if not both. How would Jimmy feel about both losing friend(s)/teammate(s) AND what the bottom line focus does to chances of winning? He's already lost the coach that made him an all-star and MAX player.

If he wants to win, he'd go to a team that doesn't manage itself like it's a small market team struggling to break even.

 

Window seems closed, but you never know. Maybe GarPax really found a gem in McDermott and Hoiberg has the special scheme to unleash him.

 

I would imagine a guy like Butler could get a very expensive insurance policy that would help offset the risk of waiting a year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4535414

Hopefully Freddy is ready.

 

Butler has shown that he's willing to bet on himself. The ultimate bet would be for him to take the $3 mil qualifying offer for next season so he can be an unrestricted free agent the following (2016) summer. Even assuming that he could purchase some insurance to offset his risk, that'd take some large brass cojones.

Expect the Bulls to make Butler a "maximum qualified offer" before June 30. This is a 5-year deal staring at 25% of the cap and includes 7.5% raises. By doing this, the Bulls force other bidders to make contract offers to Butler that are for a minimum duration of 3 years (not including option years). Source

Butler then would have 3 alternatives:

- Accept the Bulls 5-year deal
- Sign a 3-year offer sheet with another team which the Bulls would match
- Play this coming season for $3 mil and be unrestricted for the 2016-17 season.

 

Play this coming season for $3mil and get out of dysfunction junction in one season.

If the Bulls do the max QO thing, he can still do the $3mil FA route. In fact, I think that encourages him to do it.

I don't see why he'd stick himself with the Bulls for many millions less than he could make by doing the $3M route.

 

If he takes the 3M offer, he very well may be scared of the Bulls smearing him and just outright screwing him over, just like they did Thibs.

This upcoming season will be quite a test for the head coach, from a player management standpoint. Thibs was really good at that aspect of the job. (and basically all the other aspects)

The road to SUPERMAX is a tough one for young Jimmy, who has one season of star level ball under his belt. Who knows if he can do it without Thibs? Who knows how Freddy will use him? McDermott's dad might be angry that Rose, Jimmy, Pau and Niko are taking too many shots, asssuming of course that Niko and Pau ever play again after the carnage of playing time they are subjecting themselves too at the Eurobasket tournament.

 

Maybe. I mean, I hope so. I probably wouldn't insure him for less than the difference of what the Bulls were willing to pay him last season. It's all just speculation but Jimmy Butler has characterized this as "betting on himself," as in "gambling on himself."

 

He did bet on himself by not taking the lowball offer from the cheap snakes who run the team.

He's not collecting the insurance.

The risk is he takes a big step back next season and suitors question the size of contract offers.

 

Basically, unless he and his agent run go scorched earth and burn the bridges over the next several weeks, he's here for 2015-16. Possibly longer, 16-17, and 17-18 being in play too.

The pressure on Gar and Hoiberg to make sure it's a team he wants to play for over the long run will be huge. AND...the pressure is on him to keep up a high level of play so he can get to that huge payday will be big too.

A five year contract would be great for the organization and the fans. But if not, and it's understandable on a number of levels why it wouldn't be, a one or three year partnership where both sides are going all out isn't exactly a bad place to be.

http://hoopshype.com/2015/06/17/how-the-bulls-can-keep-jimmy-butler-in-chicago/

 

Chicago however must reconcile that perception issue with the business concerns, something they are known to always prioritize. A frustrated Butler under contract is still a Butler under contract, and although the very extension of the Maximum Qualifying Offer is designed to stymie Butler’s options, it would be tough for anyone to argue that offering a player the most they can be offered by rule is in some way disloyal or manipulative. The Bulls also were relatively recently burned by the case of Omer Asik, who, precisely because his first NBA contract was only two years long, was lost via free agency. This Butler situation is suitably synonymous to dig over those wounds.

 

Yes, it's a business too. Even uber-fan but business owner too Mark Cuban is forced to acknowledge that.

So...what's your point? That the Bulls are going to insist on 5 years or nothing? Is that your bet?

Here's mine: It'll be the Bulls. It'll be 1 or 3 years.

And both sides will work hard with respect their interests.

Beyond that, we don't know, and we can't know.

The NBA is funny that way: Just take a look at OKC, who many people expected to develop into into a dynasty.

 

OKC is an actual small town market.

They're not routinely generating $60M+ in profits. Some of us want some of those profits plowed back into the roster. Too bad for The Chairman if he only pockets $45M or $30M in profit, eh? But MUCH better for us fans.

I don't think anyone doubts Cuban tries really hard to win championships and his organization is far from dysfunctional. He will pay the LT without hesitation. If he fails, nobody complains that he didn't try. No reason to complain - only one team wins it.

Yet routinely, writers/broadcasters from Chicago and around the country comment on how money trumps basketball in Chicago. It's for real reasons.

 

All of us do. But as long as papa Reinsdorf is around, it's pretty much a pipe-dream. As is canning Pax and the org he's built. He's less inclined to get out of the business than Donald Sterling was.

So...we can bellyache endlessly about things that won't change, or we can toss around the other, more interesting stuff.


And you completely ignored the questions directed at you, though that is, of course, your right to do.

 

What questions directed at me have I ignored?

 

Good article by Deeks

 

If this is an example of direct questions I haven't answered... I have a few times already. I'll repeat myself again.

If the Bulls do the 5 year max QO, I think that encourages Jimmy to do the 1 year UFA route. It'll increase profits by $12M for this year, but he'll be able to choose his destination next.

If the Bulls only offer the QO, then Jimmy will have to choose a 3-year kind of deal discussed or the 1 year UFA route. If he wants out of dysfunction junction, he'll do the 1 year UFA route regardless.

Ironically, nobody's answered my questions. Like, who's going to be the next cap relief salary dump. Signing Jimmy puts us over the LT. And that's with DunVP gone.

Just as ironic is the bit from Deeks' article stating the Bulls have to prove the situation is one Jimmy wants to believe in going forward. Hard to justify that with salary dumps, the team getting weaker not stronger, etc.

 

I've already stated my opinion on the Butler RFA.

Seems that you kids are unanimous on hating Jerry Reinsdorf. Let me be the first to disagree. As many of you know, I'm a big fan. I'm grateful for the 6 Bulls' championships and my beloved White Sox World Series victory. No sense doing the Reinsdorf argument again though. You guys hate him and I don't... good enough.

_GB, I am curious about where you are getting the impression that Reinsdorf is micro-managing the Bulls. Over the years, the picture I've seen painted of Reinsdorf's management style is that he lets his people do their jobs without owner interference. He does get directly involved with negotiating major contracts (like Butler's pending deal) because he's a world-class negotiator. Do you have a credible source to back up your statements about Thibodeau's extension being Reinsdorf's call?