CBS Chicago believes there is some tension between Derrick Rose & Jimmy Butler. The sources are anonymous of course, but here is what they had to say.
Sources describe a passive-aggressive reaction from Rose that was the culmination of tensions building in recent weeks with Butler’s emergence as a primary scorer. Butler is very aware that he won his bet on himself and is poised to reap the reward of a maximum contract from the Bulls, whether or not it takes an offer sheet from another club in restricted free agency this summer. Butler’s emergence was validated by the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, and he’s now feeling every bit the star, with all that entails.
As we have learned over the years, while a team needs multiple talented players to win championships, you still have to have a MAIN GUY.
Is that Rose, Butler or neither for the Bulls?
This simply could be a byproduct of the Bulls losing than any personal animosity between the players, but Butler at least has the option to look around if he feels like he will always be in Rose’s shadow.