Jimmy Butler turned down the Bulls extension offer making the Bulls top defensive player a restricted free agent next summer. Considering Butler and the Bulls could not come to a proper agreement, seems Jimmy is betting on himself.
“It came down to me deciding that I want to bet on myself,” Butler told Yahoo Sports in a text message on Friday. “It was about me believing that I put the work in this summer to become a better player with the hope that my improvement will give the Bulls a better chance to win a championship.”
While players such as Klay Thompson, Eric Bledsoe and Gordan Hayward are reaching deals Jimmy Butler seems to be the odd man out when it comes to an agreement on an extension. Butler Agent Happy Walters had some choice words for the Bulls organization.
“All the [rookie extension] deals done so far have shown that teams are building around their stars of the future, and they’re compensating those players as such,” Walters told Yahoo Sports on Friday. “I was under the impression Jimmy was also viewed as one of those future building blocks with the Bulls.
“We tried like heck to get something done, but ultimately, the Bulls wanted a ‘hometown’ discount. While understandable, I doubt their GM or coaches give Mr. Reinsdorf a discount when negotiating their own deals.”
With Butler and the Bulls not coming to an agreement Butler can command more money on the open market in the range of $64-$70 million as an elite perimeter defender. The Bulls maybe taking a chance but Jimmy offer sheet just became expensive.