Morten’s Monday Morning Column: NBA Contract Extensions
Nov 1, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bulls guard
Jimmy Butler(21) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Andrew Wiggins(22) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Bulls got cheap during the extension talks with Jimmy Butler. This is nothing new, but this time it looks like they may have screwed themselves over. According to K.C. Johnson, Butler would have accepted a deal at $50 million over four years, which undoubtedly is a figure that will be blown out of the water when teams can talk to him.
Not Jimmy. But he's not a max guy. “@Morten_S_Jensen: And Jimmy could be looking at max regardless. 4 years, $50 million. Who says no?”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 31, 2014
Butler is a shooting guard and small forward who is an elite defender, capable of playing minutes in the high-30’s or even low 40’s every night, can get to the free throw line and has an expanding offensive game. As mentioned with Klay Thompson, high-quality shooting guards are rare in this NBA which makes it that much more likely that Butler receives a near-max offer.
Had Chicago swallowed Butler’s wish of $12.5 million annually, they could have saved themselves from the inevitable pay check of $15 million that will be coming his way in July. Or, even worse for Bulls fans, what if Butler receives a max offer, and the Bulls argue “financial flexibility” (a term they love) to respectfully not use their matching rights? This has now become a possible outcome.
Ruling: Ridiculous decision that will come back and haunt the Bulls.