Small forward: Jimmy Butler (2011-2017)
15.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 49.3 WS, 19.3 PER
The highs were higher for D-Rose during his tenure and the lows were lower than they were with former teammate and All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler. D-Rose didn’t have near as many win shares and actually had a lower player efficiency rating during his time in a Bulls uniform than Bulter did in his six years here.
Two years ago, the Bulls parted ways with “Jimmy G. Buckets” as they send him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a package in return that featured LaVine, and power forward Lauri Markkanen, among others. Just look at how the Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat fared with Butler in the mix compared to the Bulls in the last two seasons.
However, the Bulls did enjoy a long and fruitful tenure with Butler in the Windy City. His six seasons with the Bulls were filled with three All-Star selections and multiple playoff appearances. GarPax just didn’t feel like Butler was a big enough star to lead them to playoff prominence, which doesn’t seem like a great move at this point.
Butler might be the best two-way small forward that the Bulls had in the past 15 years by a good margin. Deng and Butler were both solid two-way star wings, but the latter is one of the best still in the NBA today. Butler had a solid 104 career defensive rating in his six seasons with the Bulls. But there is a misnomer that more than 30 of his win shares with the Bulls came on offense.