NBA Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls Would Show Commitment To Winning By Giving Jimmy Butler Max Deal

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By @thepackersguru

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to argue that any player on the Chicago Bulls is better right now than Jimmy Butler. And from the sound of things, the Bulls’ front office believes that as well.

According to David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are going to offer Butler a maximum contract this summer and plan to do so before he reaches restricted free agency. That would prevent other teams from using the “poison pill” approach that the Dallas Mavericks used to get Chandler Parsons away from the Houston Rockets last summer, while at the same time solidifying the Bulls as NBA title contenders for years to come.

Throughout most of the offseason, the talk centered on the return of a healthy Derrick Rose and the addition of All-Star Pau Gasol. Yet, the biggest reason for the Bulls’ 25-11 record and first-place standing in the Central division is Butler.

The former Marquette standout, who is now in his fourth season with the Bulls, was well on his way to a solid career after three good seasons with Chicago. In the 2013-14 season, he averaged 13.7 points per game in 38.7 minutes a night. He also emerged as one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA and was named to the league’s All-Defensive second team.

This season, however, Butler has taken his game to a whole new level. The former 2011 first-round pick is averaging a career-high 21.7 points per game to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He is shooting 47 percent from the field and better than 35 percent from three-point range.

In short, Butler has become the kind of impact player and scoring threat the Bulls have needed to have a legitimate chance at winning it all. With his newfound scoring ability and impact play on defense, Butler has turned into one of the best two-way players in the league and is by far the biggest reason why the Bulls can call themselves title contenders.

Chicago would be foolish to let Butler walk away, and that’s why it appears they are willing to give him a max deal even though it will force them to play luxury tax, something owner Jerry Reinsdorf is not fond of. But it appears Reinsdorf is more interested in winning than money (for once), and if he does give Butler a new deal, it will signal his readiness to lead Chicago back to the top of the basketball world.

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