Jimmy Butler - CHI

[Ian Noble]

JIMMY BUTLER
^{Chicago Bulls}

Jimmy Butler signs a six year $186 million Bird Rights deal to remain with the Chicago Bulls!

2016/17: $23,500,000
2017/18: $26,085,000
2018/19: $28,954,350
2019/20: $32,139,329
2020/21: $35,674,655
2021/22: $39,598,867

Total:- $185,952,200

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Bids for Jimmy Butler from all teams primarily centred around the fact that he clashed sharing the spotlight with Derrick Rose in real life - so why would he not jump ship and sign elsewhere with Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul on the roster? Especially since Kawhi and Jimmy are very similar players?

The view from myself and others in our discussions (in which Brian Scalabrine joined us) was that there aren't many teammates in the NBA you'd rather hope for than Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul! Kawhi never seeks the spotlight, he just wants to dominate on the court and keep quiet, and Chris Paul is possibly the greatest facilitator in the world. Mr Butler is sticking around in Chicago this year despite the arrival of Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade who are great guys, but Kawhi and CP3 are far more conducive to a good basketball atmosphere than Rondo's perceived attitude and Wade's ball dominance. Real-life trade rumours regarding Jimmy Butler have always been driven by GarPax and the Bulls organisation and not by Jimmy himself, who re-signed with Chicago despite it all, and Shane Battier and the D5 Bulls showed more effort and dedication than any other of the GMs making offers.

Coming second and third in the running were similarly spectacular efforts by Walt Frazier and the Timberwolves and Charles Barkley and the Rockets who offered excellent opportunities at Small Forward and Shooting Guard respectfully, for both teams Jimmy Butler would be the answer to so many questions, a ticket to contention in the long term.
Lastly were the Lakers and Suns who also both made strong bids but did not have the firepower to lure a big name like Jimmy Butler to their squads. Apologies to Magic Johnson and the Lakers who I somehow missed in the transfer of Butler from Jeremiah to me, I didn't get a chance to start negotiations with him because he didn't reply to me after a day and a half of waiting and I wanted to make a decision. The Lakers offer was considered alongside the others.

No other teams matched the efforts of Shane Battier and the Bulls, not even you Walt! With five years of dedication on top of that since Jimmy was a 69-rated overlooked rookie, with a bolstered Bulls roster going into next season, Jimmy Butler re-signed with Chicago.

[Shane Battier]

Welcome back, Jimmy!!!

[Ghazny Dimalen]

congrats pare...job well done..
Shane Battier paturo ako sayo paano umakit at magpapirma ng bigtime player.hahaha

[Walt Frazier]

I'm not sure there was ever REALLY a doubt here. If Jimmy doesn't return, then why did Kawhi sign there in the first place? Chris Paul is great but one player over 4-5-10 high upside and already good players is unrealistic. But, CP3 AND Jimmy Butler already being in Chicago's pocket, meant Kawhi went to Chicago.

Really not sure how Chicago's going to mesh with a weak frontcourt, but we'll see.

Also, don't think Jimmy would want to be this low on the totem pole, regardless of what was said above. But again, I don't think they were given a real choice with the Kawhi saga hanging over this.

Oh well I guess. I really hope that this "level of effort" that we've heard so much about from Shane Battier didn't make much of a difference. Dedication since he's a 69 rated player - fine. But, having time and sending more messages than anyone else - shouldn't be a factor. Assuming everyone put in legit effort.

Anyway, congrats on your team Shane.