Putting Jimmy Butler over Derrick Rose on this list may be controversial, but the simplest explanation is this: Butler’s peak in Chicago came close to Rose’s, and the value the Bulls got out of the pick puts Jimmy slightly over the edge for this exercise.
Chicago had the 30th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft after owning the league’s best record in 2010-11, and that pick became Butler, a kid from Tomball, Texas with an incredible backstory.
Butler didn’t play much as a rookie, but in his limited minutes he showed a hint of what he would become defensively. His role expanded in his second season, and with the Bulls banged up in the 2012-13 playoffs, Tom Thibodeau trusted Butler so much that he played 48 minutes in five different games.
After a sluggish third season marred by a nagging injury, Butler made the leap to stardom in 2014-15. He averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 38.7 minutes per game to take home Most Improved Player honors. He also made his first of three straight All-Star appearances in Chicago.
The 2015-16 season featured disappointed and some controversy when Butler butted heads with new Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg, but Jimmy then took an even bigger leap in 2016-17. He set career highs in points (23.9), rebounds (6.2) and assists (5.5) per game as he carried an ill-fitting team to the playoffs. By doing so, he established himself as a borderline top-10 player and earned third-team All-NBA honors.
Butler wasn’t given a chance to build upon his career year in Chicago, as the Bulls decided to embark on a rebuild by trading him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the Bulls are hoping the return they got for their All-NBA talent in the form of Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn will pave the way to a franchise resurgence in the future.
So, while Butler himself may not be present for the next great Bulls team, his presence could still be felt.