NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Telling Teams They Are Not Trading Jimmy Butler

NBA rumors have been swirling around Jimmy Butler. The 26-year-old shooting guard has been the rumor of trade talks since February. Butler is considered one of the best two-way players in the entire National Basketball Association. According to FanSided, the Chicago Bulls have started telling teams inquiring about the former All-Star that they plan on keeping him. Butler could be considered the face of the franchise. The Bulls trading Butler could be the wrong move.

Jimmy Butler may be the best shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls since Michael Jordan. Butler has been getting better each season he has been in the NBA. His stardom really took off when Derrick Rose went down with his third knee injury. That season, he won the Most Improved Player of the Year award, the first Bulls player to do so and has made the franchise proud. Butler has stolen the hearts of Chicago’s fan base.

The Chicago Bulls decided that Jimmy Butler would be the new face of the franchise. They signed the All-Star to a new deal. Butler’s contract is a five-year deal worth $95 million. All the Bulls fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief. This season, the former Marquette Golden Eagles star averaged 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals. Butler had a career high in points and assists. That is a good sign for the franchise.

This season, the public opinion of Jimmy Butler started changing. He called out new head coach Fred Hoiberg for not coaching the team hard enough. Butler made a mistake by taking it to the media instead of doing it privately with the coaching staff. Some fans might not want him around, but Butler has proven that he is a star who can help the team win games.

The Chicago Bulls shouldn’t make trading Jimmy Butler a priority because they have some key players they need to sign. Joakim Noah is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent. According to Hoops Hype, Noah is the sixth-best center available this upcoming summer. He will be one of the most sought out centers because he brings a lot to a team. When he went down with a season ending shoulder injury, the Bulls lost their vocal leader.

Joakim Noah isn’t the only player the Chicago Bulls will need to re-sign. They will also need to convince Pau Gasol to stick around for a couple more years. According to Hoops Hype, Gasol is the second best power forward available in free agency. Since joining the Bulls, Gasol has been one of the most consistent players for the team. He has also developed a good chemistry together on the court. This season, Gasol averaged 16.5 points, 11 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and two blocks per game.

The Chicago Bulls will need to figure out if they want to keep trying out the combination of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. They were supposed to be one of the best back courts in the entire NBA. Things didn’t turn out the way the Bulls were hoping for. Some fans are starting to believe that one of the two will have to get out of Chicago. Butler has the more reasonable contract for the team. Rose has also been through multiple knee injuries. He isn’t the same player that won the MVP.

Jimmy Butler has had an up and down season in terms of the fans. The All-Star has shown he can be capable of leading the Chicago Bulls. Butler is currently the franchise player. Butler and Fred Hoiberg may need some more time to be able to work together.