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Per the Chicago Tribune, Jimmy Butler isn’t Happy with the Bulls Front Office

By Michael Whitlow

Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) argues for a replay on the call which would be overturned and result in the Toronto Raptors losing possession of the ball at Air Canada Centre. The Bulls beat the Raptors 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) argues for a replay on the call which would be overturned and result in the Toronto Raptors losing possession of the ball at Air Canada Centre. The Bulls beat the Raptors 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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When it comes to the Chicago Bulls, K.C. Johnson (and his own sources) are about as reliable as you can get. That’s why what he and his sources around the situation are saying is rather important for the Bulls in terms of Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler’s rise to stardom two seasons ago has been documented more than Tupac Shakur’s life. Butler became the go-to guy for the Bulls and became the first winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, which led to a $90 million-plus contract to remain with the Bulls last summer.

Skip ahead to where the Bulls currently are and the tension between Butler and the front office duo of Bulls general manager Gar Forman and vice president John Paxson is becoming noticeable.

“For all the talk about how executive vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman made clear every option is on the table this summer, this is a front office that, historically, has preferred to build through the draft,” Chicago Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson wrote.

“That’s why, despite Forman saying last month “we have to explore all options” when asked directly about committing to Butler as a franchise centerpiece, it still would be a surprise if the Bulls traded their two-time All-Star.”

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OK, so no harm done, right?

Wrong.

According to Johnson’s sources around the Bulls, that particular comment didn’t sit well with Butler and it’s adding to his growing wariness regarding Forman that stems from Butler feeling “slighted” during failed negotiations on his rookie extension.

(Reminder: Jimmy Butler turned down a four-year, $44 million extension on the Halloween deadline in 2014 because he “wanted to bet on himself” to become a legitimate star and make superstar money.)

Here’s the thing about the situation: Both sides have a case.

Butler wants to feel like and be treated like a star. Regardless of your own personal feelings about his attitude this past season, Jimmy Butler is a legitimate NBA star and was rightfully paid like one. He’s one of the game’s best two-way players and before the knee injury that held him out for a month, he was playing like a dark-horse MVP candidate once again.

As for the front office, everything should indeed be on the table. The Bulls were messier than a one-year-old eating a birthday cake this past season, despite finishing two games over the .500 mark. Before the NBA’s trade deadline, the Bulls listened to an offer from the Boston Celtics that would have sent Butler to Boston in exchange for players and picks.

Next: Making the case for the Bulls to trade Taj Gibson away this summer

Forman and Paxson weren’t wrong when they said at their end-of-the-year press conference that changes are needed. They definitely are and what those “changes” are, remains to be seen.

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