Jimmy Butler Reportedly Agrees to New Contract with Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls previously lowballed Jimmy Butler in contract-extension talks but ultimately still managed to get the budding star to agree to a five-year, $95 million deal on Wednesday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Butler's future with the team had been in doubt at one point, when it was assumed the team had made a big mistake quibbling over relative pittance in October extension talks. Chicago offered Butler a four-year deal that capped out at $40 million or $44 million depending upon the report you read. As Wojnarowski noted, Butler and his management made clear they would have accepted a $48 million pact—pittance in NBA contractual terms.
The Bulls declined, and Butler put up a career year with averages of 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.6 blocks and 1.8 steals. He also shot 46.2 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 83.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Ultimately, the Bulls still got their man. Butler provides them with an explosive scorer who pairs well with point guard Derrick Rose to give Chicago one of the league's most fearsome backcourts.
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