Jimmy Butler Reportedly Accepts Invite to Play in Rio 2016 Olympics

Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler will participate in the 2016 Olympics for Team USA, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com and USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt.

He'll join a talented cast of players that includes Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Draymond Green, Kyle Lowry and DeMarcus Cousins:

Player	Team
Kevin Durant	Oklahoma City Thunder
DeMarcus Cousins	Sacramento Kings
Draymond Green	Golden State Warriors
Klay Thompson	Golden State Warriors
Paul George	Indiana Pacers
DeMar DeRozan	Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry	Toronto Raptors
Carmelo Anthony	New York Knicks
Jimmy Butler	Chicago Bulls
DeAndre Jordan	Los Angeles Clippers
Kyrie Irving	Cleveland Cavaliers
Harrison Barnes	Golden State Warriors

A number of superstars, including Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge, John Wall, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook and James Harden all declined invitations or are recovering from injuries, so commitments from players like Butler are key.

Butler continued to grow into one of the league's best shooting guards during the 2015-16 season, averaging 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 36.9 minutes per game. He's become the centerpiece of the Bulls, a fact reinforced by the team trading longtime franchise player Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

While he doesn't offer the three-point threat Klay Thompson brings to the table, Butler is still a strong option for Team USA and will play a crucial role for the Olympic favorites.

It's also a chance for Butler to win his first gold medal, which will be a welcome opportunity after a disappointing season for the Bulls. With a lot of turnover expected in Chicago and Butler's own future with the organization perhaps up in the air, earning a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro might be the bright spot of the summer for the talented guard.

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