Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Reviewing the Jimmy Butler trade from all sides

By Michael Whitlow

(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jimmy Butler, former member of the Chicago Bulls.
BLOOMINGTON, MN – JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

It’s over and done with, but there can be cases made for everyone

Look, there is no right answer to the Butler scenario. You could argue the Bulls should’ve kept him and built around him the right way. You could argue that trading him away and tanking was the right thing to do because the Bulls weren’t winning any titles to begin with when the Warriors have created this ultimate weapon that seemingly has no flaws right now.

There’s hundreds of scenarios, but in the end, in reality, Jimmy Butler is gone and the Bulls have put their trust in the hands of Cameron Payne, Jerian Grant, Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Denzel Valentine, Bobby Portis, Cristiano Felicio and Lauri Markkanen. That’s not even including Nikola Mirotic, who may or may not be back with the Bulls next season.

That’s not exactly a team that’s going to be competing at a high level, even with the Eastern Conference looking weaker than SpongeBob Squarepants during a morning workout. The point is, the Bulls on paper are a horrific team. There’s a reason they were projected by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton to win 28.5 games next season. This team is going to be bad.

But in the end, that was probably the point. Tanking is a real thing in the NBA. Whether people openly admit it or not, it’s real. Just go back and watch the construction of the Philadelphia 76ers you see today. It wasn’t always promise and potential. They sucked. Purposefully. And then Sam Hinkie died for the sins of Philadelphia so that a brighter day could be possible.

Still, the Bulls could’ve gotten more for Jimmy Butler. That part is clear no matter how much it’s spun. There’s no way any offers could’ve been worse than the one they accepted.

Next: Bobby Portis is one of the Bulls' most intriguing pieces heading into next season

A guy with a torn ACL, a point guard that can’t shoot and a player that GarPax didn’t even speak to or call in for a pre-draft workout for their own pick and their best player. Regardless of which side you take in this whole ordeal, the Bulls aren’t going to be enjoyable television unless you dig that sort of pain and misery.

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