Jimmy Butler (Photo : REUTERS)
The Chicago Bulls may have just put an end to all the hoopla surrounding the Jimmy Butler to Los Angeles Lakers scenario as Vincent Goodell of Comcast SportsNet Chicago reported that the Bulls have already prepared a qualifying max offer which would limit the All-Star shooting guard's option this offseason.
With Butler increasingly growing interested in signing a one-year max offer to the Lakers per report by several league sources, the Bulls made its move two days before the start of the free-agency period on July 1 by presenting a 'handcuff offer' to its prized off-guard.
According to CSN NBA scribe Kevin Anderson, the Bulls' forthcoming offer to Butler would narrow his options to three: a) sign a five-year, $90 million offer and become an unrestricted free-agent at age of 30, b) sign a three-year, max contract worth $50 million and c) picked up the Bulls' one-year qualifying option worth $4.4 million.
Among the choices available, Anderson believes Butler would choose the second option which will allow him to pocket at least $15 million per year and become a free-agent at his prime age of 28.
"Pursue a three-year max offer sheet from another team. The Bulls can (and will) match this offer. This would be a three-year deal worth approximately $50 million. Butler would become an unrestricted free agent in 2018 when he is 28 years-old. I think this is the route Butler will go," according to Anderson.
The Lakers can still present an offer sheet to the All-Star shooting guard, but the Bulls can exercise its Larry Bird rights to match any offer dollar per dollar. The best scenario for the Lakers to get Butler right now is for him to take the one-year qualifying offer with the Bulls and bolt out to Los Angeles the next season.
After putting up 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in a breakout campaign last season, the 25-year old Marquette standout will be among the hottest commodities in the free-agency market this offseason because of the way he impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Other than the Lakers, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics also expressed interest in Butler.
