National Basteball Association Free Agency Tracker – Update Central Division- July 4th

Following Chicago’s ugly season-ending loss to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals, 670 The Score’s Dan Bernstein reported that Rose and Butler had “tensions building in recent weeks with Butler’s emergence as a primary scorer”. I think we’re fine.

Beyond the money, this is Butler showing his faith in the team’s ability to win with him playing a major part in it. Rumors suggesting Butler doesn’t want to be Derrick Rose’s sidekick seemed to make it as if he’s leaning towards leaving. “I think we’re two basketball players that want to win games”, he told Rolling Stone. I think that’s our job. The Bulls believed they had a championship team last season. “I have a lot of respect for the guy”.

But the bottom line for Chicago’s National Basteball Association fans is, there’s no time and even less tolerance for any high-school stuff. Derrick Rose and his knees have held them back, the feud between the front office and now ex-head coach Tom Thibodeau was a cloud over the team and things just can’t go right. But there were a number of ways that Butler could have taken the question and used it as a way to squash the beef with Rose. There’s a lot of people that think I’m a awful basketball player, so it’s just gonna piss me off. And if it’s people who think I’m good, I’ll be happy.

Butler’s emergence is what the Bulls have been hoping for – and what Rose long has needed: a backcourt sidekick with game and ability to lessen his load offensively and handle defensively perimeter players Rose can’t. “I just play no matter who is there”, he said, adding, “If it’s another celebrity, I’m just out there doing what they do: putting on a show”.

Butler agreed to a 5 year contract that should pay him roughly $95 million over that span. In the end, the Bulls retained their star wing and now Fred Hoiberg has another weapon to work with, as Butler is one of the best at creating his own shot in the entire league.