Both the most obvious name on this list and the most expensive at the moment is the Miami Heat superstar small forward Jimmy Butler. The biggest Bulls star that saw the door in the Windy City in the last five years by a large margin is Butler. He trumps the loss of D-Rose or former star center Joakim Noah.
Last offseason, “Jimmy G. Buckets” signed with the Heat instead of returning alongside the likes of point guard Ben Simmons and center Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers. The five-time All-Star selection, two-time All-NBA honoree, four-time All-Defensive Team selection, and 2014-15 NBA’s Most Improved Player is in the twilight of his career currently.
In 54 games played with the Heat this season, Butler is averaging 20.2 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks, while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 24.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe. He’s got .219 win shares per 48 minutes, 5.2 box plus/minus rating, and 58.3 true shooting percentage.
Outside of the down three-point shooting percentage, Butler is having a sensational season in his inaugural run with the Heat under head coach Erik Spoelstra. And with the Bulls shifting the direction of their rebuild with the hire of former Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas as the next executive vice president of basketball operations, maybe a player like Butler would be a better fit.