The Chicago Bulls have faced nothing but rumors regarding several players on their roster over the offseason. With Derrick Rose's health questioned, many wondered just what path the Bulls would take in regards to their future. However, with the season just around the corner, Rose is healthy and almost everyone stayed put with a few additions. Now the focus shifts to players getting attention in 2015.
Jimmy Butler will the Chicago's next big priority in terms of contracts. The swingman's future with the Bulls looked to be in doubt after his name was mentioned several times in regards to a trade for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love. Butler along with several other Chicago players were being shopped as the team attempted to land the forward for the long-term. They eventually lost out to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Butler stayed put. Now he is looking for a fresh new contract instead of a trade.
Chicago has until October 31 to give Butler a new contract or else he becomes a restricted free agent at the start of the 2015 offseason. According to KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls prefer to give Butler an extension over letting the market decide his worth next year. The Bulls would be wise to get a deal done now. There will be someone that comes to Butler in free agency with a top-dollar deal, one Chicago cannot match. That would cause them to lose Butler for nothing. Signing him now avoids letting the market determine his worth and Chicago might be able to escape with a favorable contract in place.
Butler might be getting a new contract sooner, but no one else's future seems to be that safe. After adding Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic to the roster, Taj Gibson is suddenly finding himself on the blocks as well. The Bulls have an abundance of big men on the roster and could aim to deal one or two of them before or during the year. Both Gasol and Joakim Noah will start, forcing Gibson back to the bench. If Chicago plans on keeping Butler, they might deal Gibson instead.
