Report: Jimmy Butler to Test Free Agency?

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Per a report from Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Chicago Bulls wing Jimmy Butler could be testing the free agent market this summer, instead of signing with the Bulls on a max deal.


Earlier this month, the Chicago Bulls brought in Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg to take the reigns in Chicago after Tom Thibodeau’s departure.

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The other big project for the Bulls this summer? Re-signing the NBA’s Most Improved Player in swingman Jimmy Butler.

In the biggest season of his young career, Butler produced his best year to date, scoring 20 points per game, along with making his first NBA All-Star Game appearance.

However, things have taken an interesting turn in the Butler sweepstakes, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

According to Wojnarowski, Butler has plans to pursue shorter-term offer sheets from other teams, instead of signing a five-year, $90 million max contract to remain in Chicago. (The Bulls can’t officially present a potential deal to Butler until July 1.)

More from Wojnarowski:

"As Butler spends time in Los Angeles this summer, a stretch that’s included an overseas “Entourage” promotional jaunt with producer Mark Wahlberg, Butler’s intrigue with signing a potential Los Angeles Lakers offer sheet has increased, league sources told Yahoo Sports.Butler has preliminary plans to pursue meetings with several teams once free agency starts in July, sources said. Several teams pursuing Butler told Yahoo Sports that they’re under the impression a short-term, max money offer sheet is the wisest way to approach Butler this summer."

The shorter-term deals are more intriguing for Butler for the fact that, for example, if Butler signed a three-year, $50 million deal, with a player option in the third year that would allow him to sign a max five-year deal up to $190 million(!) once the NBA’s salary cap explodes in the 2016-17 season.

Butler also has the unpopular option of risking some big dollars and playing out the 2015-16 season under a $4.4 million qualifying offer from the Bulls, which would allow him to enter free agency next summer.

Reminder: Jimmy Butler is a restricted free agent. The Bulls have the power to match any sheet offered to Butler by teams this summer.

I think Jimmy Butler at least wants to test the market and see what his value is and what other opportunities are out there, but his options will be rather limited due to being a RFA. The Bulls front office has made it clear they want to keep Butler.

In the end, Butler will most likely end up in Chicago, but this news from Wojnarowski certainly makes things a little more interesting in terms of the “what if” category for the Bulls moving into the 2015-16 season.

Next: If Jimmy Butler leaves, then what's next for the Bulls?

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