Pippen Ain't Easy
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Pippen Ain’t Easy Roundtable: Playoffs, draft picks, front office and food

By Michael Whitlow

Mar 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) relaxes during a break in the action against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Chicago 122-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) relaxes during a break in the action against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Chicago 122-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of Pippen Ain't Easy's most talked about subjects: Gar Forman.
Jul 29, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Dwayne Wade (right) and Bulls general manager Gar Forman pose for a photo after addressing the media after a press conference at Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Question No. 3: If you’re in control, what is your summer plan for the Bulls? (Please do better than Gar Forman.)

DC: Gar seems likely to stay the course. If Mirotic keeps the hot hand for the rest of the season, probably throw money at him. They’ll probably chase George Hill. If I’m the GM instead of Gar, I’m seeing what we can do to get Becky Hammon to take over coaching duties. I probably check in with Danny Ainge, see if he wants to make a move after they get bounced out of the playoffs and never get a whiff of the Finals. I look for some Robin Lopez trades. Try to keep Cristiano Felicio. I don’t like any free agent fits with the Bulls. Rajon Rondo would go. I’d do everything I could to make Dwyane Wade not want to ever set foot in the United Center ever again so that he walks away from that massive money. I’d have a busy summer, to be certain.

MF: My plan for the summer would probably revolve around Jimmy Butler. As much as us Bulls fans love and appreciate him, it may be time to let him wander off to a better situation. The 27-year-old is putting his all into a team that just doesn’t care about playing most nights, including Dwyane Wade on occasion. Whether it’s the Celtics or anyone else offering, I would make a blockbuster trade to pair multiple younger assets together that make one Jimmy Butler.

DB: Get rid of Rajon Rondo. Hopefully, Dwyane Wade decides to take his talents elsewhere. If Mirotic can be signed short term on a reasonable deal, go for it. Take Miles Bridges or OG Anunoby in the draft if available. The team gets younger and has a chance to develop talent and field a team that could space the floor more for Jimmy Butler. See how that works next season and get the rookies and sophomores some playing time to see what the team has.

MP: Trade Jimmy Butler before the 2017 NBA Draft. If the Celtics offer the (hopefully) top overall pick and a couple other pieces like Jae Crowder or Jaylen Brown, then the Bulls can truly begin a rebuild. I love Jimmy and I would love to hold onto him, but there aren’t too many exciting free agents that realistically might come to Chicago in the next few years and the Bulls won’t be able to make real noise in the playoffs with only Butler. If Chicago keeps trying and failing with Butler, then once his contract expires in a few years, who knows if he’ll really want to stay. All of a sudden, the Bulls could be left with nothing. Dwyane Wade is probably leaving this summer. Chicago should take care of the Rondo situation. All that leaves is Butler, who GarPax haven’t successfully built around.

PS: If I’m the general manager of the Bulls (this is cool, I like this fantasy) I’m praying Dwyane Wade opts out of his second-year option. After that, I do my best Darryl Morey impression and try to build around Jimmy Butler. Shooters. Everywhere. SHOOTERS EVERYWHERE. I’d surround Jimmy with perimeter threats who can ideally hold their own on defense. It just seems really simple. And obvious. Sigh. If I have to please the owner and try to construct a win now team, J.J. Redick is the first guy on my wish list.

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