The young, budding swingman Jimmy Butler is headed for restricted free agency after he finishes his 2014-15 campaign with the Chicago Bulls and his future with the team remains uncertain until an official contract extension is signed. He remains adamant, though, in his belief that he will sign an extension with the team no matter what happens - even dismissing rumors spreading that he is chasing a lucrative offer elsewhere, per ESPN Chicago:
"Just play ball," Butler said of his mindset, before Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. "People say that I'm chasing money when that's not it. Because I'm going to be in Chicago. I'm not worried about it. I say it with a smile on my face because I know for a fact. We'll resume [talks] back in July."
"This is where I want to be. I love my teammates, the fan base, the organization, everybody. I think I still will end up in this city."
The New TV deal that the NBA landed has created a sense in players and agents that a bigger payroll is bound to happen. Thus, rather than sign a contract extension now, Butler's camp decided that they are better off testing the market. But the money brought by the new broadcast rights deal may not be available for the 25 year old swingman once he hits free agency next summer and the Bulls salary cap is already committed to several of its players making it difficult for the team to offer Butler and his camp an offer that is financially satisfying. Per Brett Pollakof of Pro Basketball Talks:
In Butler's case, the money from the new rights deal won't have kicked in yet next summer when it's time to negotiate his deal. Projections can be made, of course, but the Bulls are already committed financially to Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, with Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol each hitting free agency at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
With that being said, if Jimmy Butler is really serious in becoming part of the Bulls organization for the next chapter of his career in the NBA, then all he needs to do is say no to the other teams that will come courting him with offer sheets greater than what the Bulls can pay him. That, of course, is not an easy decision to do making it hard to predict whether Butler will still be wearing a Bulls jersey next season.
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