Chicago Bulls: Butler is 2 Guard Bulls Have Always Needed

Thank you Jimmy Butler for making me look intelligent! I ranted in my previous article about how Jimmy Butler had worked tirelessly on his game over the off-season and how it was paying/going to pay dividends the entire season. Right on cue, Butler scores 29 against Atlanta culminated with an unreal game winning three with the game clock expiring. Butler scored 20 points in the 4th quarter; leading the Bulls to an improbable preseason win.

Here, lets relive the highlight for a second.

Jimmy G. Jordan. That is coming from Stacey King, not me.

But lets slow down with the excitement for a second, and put things in perspective. This is preseason, although Jimmy Butler is putting up crazy numbers and the game winning shot re-reminded me why I love this team so much, neither makes a difference in the grand scheme of things. He needs to continue to produce at this level come the regular season and especially in the playoffs.

But, as of now, there isn’t any reason why Jimmy Butler can’t continue to produce at the extremely high level he is playing at once the games actually mean something. I’m going to make a dangerous prediction: Jimmy Butler will average 15+ points this year and earn his first all-star game appearance of his career. You heard it here first folks.

Oct 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) reacts after he shot a last second three-point basket to beat the Atlanta Hawks 85-84 during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

But, as I’m typing these words, I’m simultaneously knocking twice on the wood of my desk. I don’t want to jinx the man; give fans such an over-inflated analysis of Butler’s abilities that anything less than 15+ points and an all-star appearance inevitably leads to tremendous backlash from the fan-base directed at yours truly.

So, without further ado, I will knock-on-wood again and continue with the actual point of this article.

The Bulls franchise, forever in search of a serviceable shooting guard capable of creating their own shot, may have struck gold with the recent revelation of Jimmy Butler’s play. I know that several other writers here at Pippen Ain’t Easy have said it but I’d like to reiterate the point because I think it is vitally important: PAY JIMMY BUTLER! Lock him up long term.

Sep 29, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman during media day at the Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the ‘Derrick Rose’ era of Chicago Bulls basketball, the team has struggled to find a secondary scorer that could take some of the scoring burden off of Rose by creating their own shot. The Bulls needed a complimentary wing player that could score on a whim and prevent defenses from focusing all their attention on Rose.

Luol Deng has been the closest thing to a complement to Rose over the last 4-5 years. Prior to that, Ben Gordon (remember him?) provided scoring at the two guard position. But he played with Rose at the very start of Derrick’s career when the MVP point guard didn’t command nearly as much attention as he does now. But lets look at Deng for a second. Its amazing to think that Rose and Deng only played one full season together when bother players were at the top of their game (2010-2011). The rest of the time, Rose was either hurt or it was too early in his career for him to be overly effective. My point is that the Bulls only truly saw what the duo of Rose and Deng could do for one full year and, when put in perspective, the result was fantastic. The scoring duo led the team to an Eastern Conference Finals birth; although they lost 4-1 all games were highly competitive. Rose and Butler could be a back-court (I realize that Butler plays the 3 most nights but he operates from the outside on most of his scoring plays) capable of elite status. Butler and Rose can reestablish what Rose and Deng were and, with extra scoring reinforcements in the form of Noah, Gibson and Gasol, may be even more effective. However, we will never know unless Butler signs an extension.

Deng ultimately was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for salary cap considerations by the Chicago Bulls after Luol denied a last ditch contract offer worth $30 million over 3 years. Last summer, he signed with the Miami Heat. I’d just like to get this out there: Love Luol but goodness gracious he looks so stupid in that ugly Heat jersey.

Oct 14, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) drivers to the basket as Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) defends during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the success of the 2010-2011 season, the Bulls ultimately met a premature end in their elimination by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rose was all but shut down, and Deng didn’t do much to help. In the playoffs this season, teams will undoubtedly focus their defense on taking the ball out of Derrick Rose’s hand. Can Jimmy Butler be expected to shoulder the scoring burden in this inevitable situation? To be honest, I don’t know. But, he doesn’t have to this season because the Bulls have competent scorers throughout their line-up. Gibson and Noah have evolved into border-line prolific scorers in the paint, and the addition of Gasol will take the scoring burden off of Rose and Butler. Back in 2010-2011, Gibson and Noah were still elite on defense, but not so much on offense. The point being: the need for a shooting guard isn’t as pressing as it has been in the past with all the scoring threats that the Bulls now have (I didn’t even scratch the surface with Mirotic and McDermott).

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Regardless, Butler will be a large determinant in this teams’ success this season. There is no reason he can’t reciprocate the performances he has had thus far this preseason when it actually matters. He may be that two guard that the team has always wanted…and needed. All those silly trade rumors that have surfaced recently may stop dead in their tracks if Jimmy Butler lives up to his newly coined Jimmy G. Jordan nickname.

The Chicago Bulls must pay Jimmy Butler and sign him to an extension. Resigning Butler after this season is an absolute necessity that shouldn’t be up for debate. Butler is in the last year of his 4 year ~$5 million rookie contest. He is due for a contract extension following the regular season when he becomes a restricted free agent.

Oct 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) gets hugged by Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44), Chicago Bulls guard Kim English (24) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) after he shot a last second three-point basket to beat the Atlanta Hawks 85-84 during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Butler must be paid. A lot of people undervalue him because he isn’t a flashy guy and his offense has been subject over the years. However, the constant has been his elite-level defense and hustle/effort that he brings to the table every night. He is one of the players that you have to have in this Thibodeau led system because it won’t work otherwise. You don’t just let a guy capable of shutting down the oppositions’ best player on any given night walk. Its a no brainer to keep Jimmy; but there is still another problem. How much is he worth?

A good starting point to determining the answer to this question is to compare Butler to a player of similar value.

The Bulls offered Luol Deng a 3 year $30 million contract before he was ultimately traded.

Taj Gibson, another system player like Butler, is currently riding out the last three years of his current contract worth approximately $25 million.

So, a fair contract extension for Butler would be in the range of $25 million-$30 million spanning 3 years. In reality, Butler probably won’t negotiate nearly as stiffly as Deng did. He has found a home in Chicago, and all indications point to him being extremely tight with his teammates. I could see Butler accepting less than this for the good of the team and to continue to play in Chicago.

The Bulls need to continue to lock down this core group of players and the last step in this process would be resigning Butler to a contract extension. As long as Rose, Noah, Gibson and Butler are playing together and healthy success will follow. Bulls management needs to recognize the value of players that have played with each other their entire careers and get on resigning Butler.

Butler won’t let the Bulls down if they ultimately decide to resign him.

Knock on wood.