This Summer Marks an Intriguing One for Jimmy Butler and the Bulls
After a season filled with twists and turns seemingly after ever game, Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler has become the center of attention for the organization; literally and figuratively. The summer marks a key time for Butler and Bulls.
After a 16-point loss in New York against the Knicks back in December this past season, Jimmy Butler inadvertently called out rookie head coach Fred Hoiberg. “I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah,” Butler said. “But I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times.”
Later in the season, Butler was taking photos (when he wasn’t active on the floor) with friend and Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg during the Bulls’ blowout win in their lone trip to Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The recent report from the Chicago Tribune about Butler being upset at Bulls general manager Gar Forman over his end-of-the-year press conference comments about “everything being on the table” (including trading Butler) may also have some steam to it.
Just this week alone, Butler has been attached to a TMZ report that he’s dating Pretty Little Liars actress Shay Mitchell, along with another report that he’ll represent the Chicago Bulls for the NBA’s draft lottery this coming Tuesday night in New York; where this season seemed to take a turn for the Bulls.
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How so?
In the Bulls’ next game — December 21 against the Brooklyn Nets — is the game where the Bulls not only lost at home to the woeful Nets, but that’s when Joakim Noah suffered his initial shoulder injury and would later have surgery and ending his season.
Butler would later find himself on the shelf just a couple months later after taking a nasty tumble in Denver on Feb. 5 against the Nuggets.
Throw in everything else from the Bulls — injuries, pathetic losses and just an embarrassing season as a whole — and a lot of eyeballs are looking at Hollywood Hulk Butler, er … Jimmy Butler. Throughout this season, Butler made it clear he wants to be “the leader” of the franchise. To a degree, Butler’s in the right. As the $92.3 million man nowadays, he tried to absorb the role of producing on a nightly basis and leading his troops.
However, Butler’s attempts at becoming the face of the franchise drew some ire of those within the organization, specifically Joakim Noah.
"Why did Jimmy change? A lot of reasons. Part of it was the contract, part was seeing what it’s like when you are a star. He loved being in L.A. and that whole lifestyle. Nobody questioned his work ethic, they were questioning how he could function as the leader of the group.ESPN Chicago’s Nick Friedell on ESPN Radio 1000 (via SB Nation’s Blog a Bull)"
Friedell would go on to address the rumored tension between Butler and Noah and not Butler and Derrick Rose (like what was reported during last summer’s chaos).
"So many people focus on the Jimmy-Derrick relationship, but I don’t think [in terms of personal animosity] it was ever that bad. But there was a lot of tension between Jimmy and Jo. Jo wanted to always wanted to be the big brother, take care of everybody else. It started in the back-half of last year, Jimmy seeing he was becoming the best player on the team and wanted others to respect his voice more than in the past. I think Jo [dismissed it, seeing Jimmy as still a role player]."
Add in the fact that Butler didn’t attend a team-bonding event while the Bulls were out on the West Coast, the reality that four of Butler’s main influences around the Bulls organization — Tom Thibodeau, Adrian Griffin, Luol Deng and Ronnie Brewer — and the Bulls’ biggest asset might be as frustrated as anyone within the franchise.
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However, burned bridges can be fixed and Butler’s appearance at next week’s draft lottery could be the start of just that. Butler wanted to stay in Chicago throughout all last year, despite receiving an underwhelming $44 million contract offer before Halloween. During the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago on Thursday, Butler was seen talking with both Hoiberg and Forman as the event took place.
The Bulls need Jimmy Butler in the fray. Whether you like his playing style or not, he’s the best player on the roster and despite the rumored friction with others and the Hollywood-like attitude from Butler, this can be repaired over the summer with both sides coming together for one common goal and that’s making a legitimate playoff push.
This past year was frustrating for everyone, not just Butler. The reason why Butler’s frustrations were aired out so much is because, well … he is “the guy” now. There’s no guarantee Derrick Rose returns on a new deal with the Bulls after next season. Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol may both be gone in the coming months.
The Bulls — specifically Forman and Bulls vice president John Paxson — made it clear that they wanted Butler to stay in Chicago throughout last season. They’ve made it clear that changes are needed, but moving Jimmy Butler isn’t one of them.
If all sides can come together and provide a sense of unity (something that was missing all season long), then that’s a huge first step in terms of building a title contender of the future.