Maybe the Chicago Bulls weren’t crazy after all
By Ryan Heckman
The further we get from the trade, the more clarity we get
Earlier this offseason, the Timberwolves offered Butler a 4-year extension worth approximately $110 million, per NBA.com. What transpired following the offer seemed to be foreshadowing of the events to come.
Butler ended up rejecting the extension. The reasoning behind Butler rejecting the deal is still not fully known, but rumored tension between he, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins seemed to be the likely scenario — and it’s also likely the reason Butler requested a trade this week.
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The talk was that Butler was not satisfied playing alongside guys like Wiggins and Towns due to their lack of intensity. Butler is one of the more competitive and intense players in the NBA, and Towns and Wiggins aren’t exactly near that level.
Now, there are some crazy rumors floating around regarding Butler, Towns and the latter’s significant other. Out of respect for all involved, I won’t share details, although you are free to go look for yourself.
Regardless of whether or not any of the rumors are true, the fact that Butler is the subject of something like this is somewhat eye-opening. The further we get from the night of the trade, the less crazy the Bulls look — and not just because of these crazy rumors surfacing.
Butler is coming across more and more as a “me” player. Sure, he wants to win. But, is his personality too strong to translate into a leader? There were times in the past where Butler’s leadership was questioned by teammates. There was a time where he was rumored to have some tension between he and then-superstar teammate Derrick Rose.
It gets to a certain point where you see rumor after rumor, and report after report, and wonder whether or not there could be any truth to Butler’s character coming into question.
Now, the Bulls are looking at a healthy and rejuvenated LaVine. Markkanen had a stellar rookie season and is certainly on the rise going into his sophomore year. Dunn’s future is still to be seen, but this is yet another guy who has that word “hope” surrounding him.
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Butler wants out of Minnesota. In the end, it’s going to be the Timberwolves trading LaVine, Dunn and Markkanen for pretty much nothing. How crazy do the Bulls look, now?