Report: Jimmy Butler Asked For $14M Per Year In Extension Talks
(CBS) One of the biggest storylines of the Bulls' season has been the breakout transformation of wing Jimmy Butler into All-Star form and a 22-point-per-game scorer. Naturally, that's also made the failed extension negotiations in late October between Butler and Chicago a hot topic as well. With the sides not reaching a deal, Butler will become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Previously, the Chicago Tribune had reported that the Bulls offered Butler $11 million-per on a multi-year deal, but it wasn't known what Butler was seeking.
On Wednesday, the Sporting News' Sean Deveney reported that Butler initially asked for $14 million-per, though he was "willing to negotiate downward to the $12.5-$13 million range."
The Sporting News also confirmed that the Bulls were offering a deal in the $11 million-per range.
After a stellar start to the season in which he's averaging 22.0 points on 49 percent shooting, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists, the 25-year-old Butler is on track to come out ahead in the failed negotiations. Many have speculated he could receive a max deal next offseason -- with lesser numbers than Butler's now and inferior defense, Gordon Hayward received one last July -- and Deveney quotes a league executive as saying Butler will get just that.
From the Sporting News:
If Butler continues on this current track, several league executives agree he will warrant a max-contract offer next summer. That's based not only on Butler's numbers, but his top-tier defensive ability, his age (25) and the fact that nearly half the league will have significant cap space available.
"If you think you have a legitimate shot at him, you would have to come out with a max offer," one general manager said. "That's the only way you'd have a chance of prying him out of Chicago, and there are a few teams that would be willing to try, sort of like what Charlotte tried with (Gordon) Hayward last summer. (Utah matched the Hornets' max offer.) I think he stays in Chicago, but it is going to be expensive for them."
A max contract would start around $16.6 million per season, though that's subject to change based on the salary cap and revenues. The Bulls will have the right to retain Butler by matching any offer sheet he receives from another team.