Jimmy Butler apparently isn’t untouchable to the Chicago Bulls.
This is a weird thing to write, and an even weirder thing to know. It wasn’t long ago that these Bulls were supposed to be the biggest threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ throne. Now they’re on the verge of missing the playoffs under rookie head coach Fred Hoiberg, forced to confront an unforeseen reality: the prospect of rebuilding.
And if the Bulls do hit reset, they could end up doing so without Jimmy Butler, their prized cornerstone who signed a max deal in restricted free agency last summer. That’s what some opposing executives think anyway, according to The Vertical’s Chris Mannix:
Indeed, no one is untouchable. The palace intrigue that surrounded Butler and Hoiberg prompted several teams to inquire about Butler’s availability at the trade deadline. Though they were rebuffed, several rival executives told The Vertical they intend to try again. Boston was among the teams trying to pry away Butler in February, and several executives point to Orlando, with its treasure trove of young players and defensive-minded head coach, as a team to watch closely in the pursuit of Butler.
This is not saying that the Bulls have Butler on the chopping block. But as they look to move forward under Hoiberg, they’ll have to weigh all their options. If some team comes along slinging a package that simultaneously makes the Bulls younger, faster and cheaper, though not better, they may be enticed enough to rebuild from the ground up around the head coach they bet big on.
Of course, such a monster offer may not exist. The Bulls no doubt value Butler as much as any other team values any other player, and potential suitors may be scared off by the injury concerns that have arose for Chicago’s wing over the last few weeks.
Regardless, the Bulls are speeding toward a pivotal offseason, and though they’ll more likely than not begin next season with Jimmy Butler in tow, nothing is for certain in Chicago these days.
