Jimmy Butler clarifies he didn't influence Chicago Bulls management on the departure of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. (Photo : Getty Images for Bonobos/Daniel Boczarski)
Jimmy Butler remains a Chicago Bull and believes he is not above anyone. That includes calling the shots on who stays and who goes for the team.
Butler addressed the belief that he had a hand in the major overhaul the Bulls made in the offseason. Gone are veterans Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Pau Gasol with critics pinning the blame on the 26-year-old swingman. Rose and Noah are now with the New York Knicks while Gasol took his act to the San Antonio Spurs.
Butler is part of Team USA and spoke on the brewing notion that he was responsible for sending Rose, Noah, and Gasol packing. In an interview, the 30th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft cleared the air at the United Center in Chicago.
"That has nothing to do with me. I don't move guys," said Butler in a report from ESPN. "It's like I always say: People are going to think what they want to think.”
Butler has kept tabs with Rose and Noah, indicating that all is well between them. Summing it all up, all of them are satisfied and looking forward to the coming 2016-17 NBA season.
One thing all of them have to do is adjust to the state of their respective teams. Rose and Noah will need to acclimatize themselves to a rebuilt Knicks squad while Butler will be trying to blend in with new recruits, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo.
The addition of Wade and Rondo brings a ton of experience for the Bulls and Butler is looking forward to playing alongside the veteran guards, the Chicago Daily Herald reported. A foreseen issue though is how the three can share the ball. Most want the ball in their hands, hinting at needed adjustments. Head coach Fred Hoiberg will be tasked to make all that work.
For now, Butler’s focus is helping Team USA. He joins an elite squad boasting of the NBA’s best, adding him to the list of players now considered as the world’s best.
Butler is one of three players in the USA basketball team who are late draft picks. The other low draft pick players on the team are DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers) and Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors).
Dwyane Wade's arrival carries heavy expectations but he explains in the video below that the Chicago Bulls are still Jimmy Butler's team.
