Pippen Ain’t Easy roundtable: Where do the Chicago Bulls go from here?

By Michael Whitlow | Jun 27, 2017

Jan 24, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) works out prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jimmy Butler, the former centerpiece of the Chicago Bulls.

CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 25: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates with teammates after the Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 117-99. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

MW: Personally, there were some expletives that came out of my mouth, but it was more out of shock. It was basically, “Holy [expletive]. They actually did it.” It was something that I didn’t think Gar Forman and John Paxson had the guts to do. It was a terrible trade in my own opinion, but they “picked a lane.” (I still think that’s flawed, but they can actually “Trust the Process” now, so that’s kinda neat, right?

Staying on the Butler subject, what was your favorite moment of his as a Bull? A couple came to mind for me: his dunk over Chris Bosh in 2013 that helped end Miami’s long winning streak, going toe-to-toe with Nene in the 2014 postseason and winning Most Improved Player after the 2014-15 season, which led to his max deal after “betting on himself.”

DB: Might be recency bias coming into play here but his game winner against the Brooklyn Nets this season sticks out to me. Hit the go-ahead bucket with half a minute left, the Nets tie it up and then Jimmy Buckets comes down and hits a step-back jumper to win the game at the buzzer. Also him blocking Isaiah Thomas at the end of Game 1 in the playoffs was especially sweet.

DC: Everything about Jimmy was perfect. From the Olympics and his football to putting up Scottie Pippen stat lines, he did it all. If I’m picking my personal favorite, it was his reaction and shake off of clueless Fred Hoiberg making a terrible call for a timeout.

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BH: My favorite Jimmy Butler moment would have to be when he dropped 52 on the Charlotte Hornets this past season, or any time Neil Funk or Stacey King referred to him as “Jimmy G. Buckets, and the G stands for gets!”

IK: My favorite Jimmy Butler moment out of many was when he dunked on Chris Bosh off an alley-oop during the 2013 season with Nate Robinson and company and we ended the Heat’s 27 game winning streak in Chicago.

WL: Underrated moment that would perhaps go off a more negative cliff, but when the Rajon Rondo feud was going on, that was some good television. Although Games 1 and 2 featured some great Jimmy Buckets moments, it was the infighting that really made him special … or when the weird stuff about his country music habit was coming into the public eye.

MP: Butler has left Chicago with a lot of great memories, but my personal favorites were any time he caught lobs off of a curling motion. Bulls fans really started seeing it happen consistently two seasons ago with Pau Gasol on the team, and Gasol usually would throw the lob to Butler right after he went under an off-ball screen. These lobs became a sort of trademark with Jimmy, and it happened again several times this season with passes from players like Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic.

RP: In a mid-January game, during what might have been one of the most boring and plainly unwatchable Bulls’ seasons in recent memory, Jimmy Butler made me jump out my seat during a basketball game.

The Bulls were in Memphis to take on the Grizz, and with a minute to go, Jimmy encapsulated the impact he had in Chicago in four or five possessions. With the game tied, Butler trotted down the court, making his way to the top of the key, where both Michael Carter-Williams and Robin Lopez screened for him going right. Jimmy, around both screens and still guarded heavily by Tony Allen, stopped right at his spot on the right wing, pulled up and sank the shot.

Memphis put Vince Carter, being guarded by Butler, in the corner for the next possession, isolating Michael Carter-Williams to defend Mike Conley in space, ending exactly as you would imagine it would.

Jimmy brings the ball up again, this time with the game tied at 104. He tried getting to the wing again, but both Allen and Marc Gasol beat him there, forcing Plan B. MCW set another pick going back to the free-throw line. Butler split the defenders, landing right at the elbow and hitting again.

To top it off, Butler made a play only a few are willing and able to make, as he dove nearly ten feet to steal the inbounds pass on the Grizzlies final possession, sealing one of the better wins Chicago chalked up last season.

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