The Chicago Bulls have been one of the feel-good stories of the 2015 NBA Playoffs, thanks in no small part to the resurrection of Derrick Rose, which reached its tipping point Friday with his buzzer-beater to win Game 3. LeBron James returned the favor in Game 4 Sunday, and the series is still very much up in the air, but the back-court tandem of Rose and All-Star swing-man Jimmy Butler has given the Cavs all that they can handle and then some.
Butler’s suffocating defense on LeBron so far this series has been a big key to their success, and it’s just another example of the type of effort that earned him the Most Improved Player award for the regular season. Regardless of the outcome of these playoffs, Butler is going to get paid this summer, and get paid big.
He’ll be a restricted free agent, which means the Bulls can ultimately match any offer he receives, and every indication points to them doing precisely that. Considering Butler’s career arc and personal narrative, he deserves every penny of it, too. From homeless youth to NBA All Star, he’s scratched and clawed his way to superstardom through toughness and tenacity.
He took a big gamble last summer when he opted not to sign an extension with Chicago, a move that allowed him to become a free agent this summer and potentially earn more money. A lot could have gone wrong between then and now to upend that – injury, regression, stasis, etc. – but what happened instead was that Butler worked relentlessly on his offensive game and has gone from being a very good defensive wingman to one of the best two-way shooting guards in the league.
This newfound ability to put up points is exactly why he’ll get max offers this summer, and teams are already lining up to try and lure him away from the Bulls. According to a report from RealGM, the Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on Butler, but it seems like a foregone conclusion that he’ll ultimately stay in Chi-town.
“For now, Butler has made clear his desire, and the Bulls will assuredly match anything, anyway. Here’s a breakthrough star in the regular season, and an even bigger performer in the postseason. He’s a main reason these Bulls believe they have an opportunity to defeat LeBron…”
The only thing that remains to be seen is whether he, like so many free agents, will play the pretty girl at the dance and allow himself to be wooed by all of his admirers before making his final decision. Regardless, the Bulls would be wise to offer him a max deal and/or match any offer he receives and position him as a franchise cornerstone for the future, much like the Spurs will do with Kawhi Leonard this summer. Along with the reemergence of Rose (knock on wood), it’s a move that should keep the Bulls competitive for years to come.
