The Chicago Bulls and guard Jimmy Butler have until Oct. 31 to agree on a contract extension, otherwise the 25-year-old becomes a restricted free agent in the summer. While an extension appears unlikely to happen before the deadline, that doesn't mean Butler will be traded or he won't be back with the Bulls next season.
Butler is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league, and his scoring jumped last season to 13.1 points per game. Those two things make him a valuable commodity, and there would certainly be a market for him if he became available. For that reason, Butler and the Bulls are in disagreement on a contract number.
With the deadline one day away, Butler appears content to play out the season and become a restricted free agent in July. But that doesn't mean he's going anywhere.
"I think they're close number wise. With that said, I don't know if a deal will get done. I was told Butler may try to play out the season and see if he can have a huge year before signing a new deal," Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy wrote Wednesday. "Essentially, he would be betting on himself to have a huge season since he's no longer dealing with his turf toe and he had a very good preseason. With that said, if the Bulls come up and increase their offer, I do think he'd bite and extend his deal. It's just about finding the number that's worth it for both sides."
After Friday, Butler wouldn't be eligible for an extension until the offseason. It seems likely Chicago and Butler will reach an agreement in the summer. Even if it didn't seem likely, there'd be no way Chicago trades Butler. With a healthy Derrick Rose, along with the addition of Pau Gasol, Chicago has serious championship aspirations and needs Butler to make them happen.
Butler is currently sidelined with a sprained left thumb; he's expected to miss 2-4 weeks, according to coach Tom Thibodeau.
