Westerlund: Jimmy Butler Bets On Himself
By Cody Westerlund-
CHICAGO (CBS) – Joakim Noah sauntered out of the showers late Friday night at the United Center, weary from a glorious basketball game that he couldn't find much solace or worry in.
He and the Bulls hadn't seen this coming, not in this manner: a 114-108 overtime loss to the Cavaliers in which the hosts were pushed around in allowing 20 offensive rebounds and blew a five-point lead in the final minute of regulation.
Since Tom Thiobdeau's been in charge, Chicago has prided itself on its toughness, defense and rebounding. Then the Bulls watched as the Cavaliers better displayed those traits, with forward Tristan Thompson grabbing 12 offensive rebounds himself.
Noah expressed disappointment. What he didn't express was concern.
"I'm not worried about it," Noah said. "It just sucks. We had the game won. We beat ourselves."
There were several reasons for Noah's defiance, the second game of the season notwithstanding. In addition to playing without Derrick Rose for the fourth quarter after he suffered a sprained left ankle, another shadow was cast over what we can only hope was a fourth-night-of-the-season precursor to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Watching from the sidelines Friday with a sprained left thumb was Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler. With Chicago's primary perimeter defender out, Cleveland star LeBron James exploded for 36 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
His injury minor, Butler will be back later this season to defend James. The lingering question is whether he'll be back next season to defend James.
As the 11 p.m. deadline ticked by Friday, Butler and the Bulls failed to reach a contract extension. Butler was reportedly seeking around $12 million annually, with the Chicago Tribune reporting that the Bulls offered a multi-year deal averaging around $11 million per season.
Butler will enter restricted free agency next summer, when the market will decide his value and Chicago will have the opportunity to match any offer.
This is a gamble for both parties, with more variables than you may realize.
Given his near-perfect fit with the Bulls, Butler should be worth more money to them than anyone else. He's a tough-minded youngster who plays for a hard-headed coach, never raising a fuss when tasked with playing 45-plus minutes. He defends like a beast in a conference that will go through James for years to come. He's the best athlete on a team that's slow compared to other teams with championship aspirations.
Butler is an adept cutter and has a knack for getting to the free-throw line. Both qualities complement an explosive point guard like Rose.
The problem arises in that Butler just didn't shoot the ball well in 2013-'14 (28 percent on 3-pointers), and he's not a creator for others off the dribble. In a league that so highly values offensive playmaking, those are red flags for teams looking to shell out money in the range of $12 million or more annually.
Complicating matters for the Bulls were several other factors. Rose's health is always a lingering question – as evidenced by his ankle sprain Friday – and if he can't consistently be on the court in the coming years, locking yourself into a lucrative multi-year deal with a wing who you still have doubts about offensively wouldn't be prudent.
And then in 2016-'17, the salary cap is expected to take a big spike when the new media rights deal kicks in. This is both a blessing and a curse for the Bulls. While they'll have their own cap space in time and could use it on Butler, other suitors might be more willing to give Butler a big deal in summer 2015, knowing they only have to be hamstrung for one year on what might be perceived as a Butler overpay.
It only takes one bidder to change the game, and now many more will see flexibility on the horizon.
The risk for the Bulls comes in overpaying Butler or watching him walk. For Butler, the risk comes in having a subpar offensive season or having to leave a place he cherishes.
"The whole city, this is home for me," Butler said in a pregame interview.
"I love it here. This is where I want to be. I love my teammates, the fan base, the organization."
Drawing grand conclusions from Friday would seem rash, but it did display how dangerous the Cavaliers will be offensively with a superstar trio. James is a battering ram, the Bulls left helpless as he consistently got a head of steam to the hoop.
In a place he loves, Butler is needed more than ever when Chicago faces its new rival, and a potential key cog in a championship chase of the future has been left to chance over several million dollars.
The Bulls are confident they will retain Butler, but only time can provide an answer.
"I love my odds," Butler said. "I think this team is really good, championship-caliber. I am a part of this team. I'm going to produce. I'm going to guard. I will take betting on myself."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
