Jimmy Butler Is Confident He And Derrick Rose Will Be NBA's Best Backcourt
By Cody Westerlund--
(CBS) With All-Star wing Jimmy Butler signing a five-year max contract worth around $95 million on Thursday, the Bulls almost certainly will have the NBA's highest-paid starting backcourt next season, when Butler takes his place alongside point guard Derrick Rose, who will be paid about $20.1 million.
So it's no secret that Chicago's success will hinge on its two max-contract players meshing into an elite pairing. And it's no surprise that they'll be under intense scrutiny.
Following Chicago's embarrassing season-ending loss to Cleveland in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals -- a game in which Butler walked out without speaking to the media because he was so mad, he said Thursday, and one in which their play was discombobulated -- there were reports of on-court tension between Rose and Butler.
On Thursday at a press conference to announce his re-signing, Butler shed light on his relationship with Rose and expressed confidence that the duo can live up to its pay grade. The Bulls were 28-17 when Rose and Butler played together in the regular season last year.
"We play well on the court together," Butler said. "With the more time we're out there, we'll definitely get better at it. Off the floor, he has a son, so he has a family he has to take care of. I'm with my brothers a lot of the time, but when we have a chance, we'll hang around each other. But I feel like we spend enough time together on the court. So I think when you're off the court, then you go your separate ways a little bit."
Can Rose and Butler be the best backcourt in the NBA?
"I think so," Butler said. "I think we can play off each other well, especially with the offense we're going to be running now. We both get out in transition. We can both score. We can both get the ball to the open guy. I think that's what team players do, and he's really good at that. I think I'm pretty good at it too. I like our chances of being the best backcourt."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
