National Basketball Association

Jimmy Butler isn't happy about the latest Chicago Bulls trade rumors

Published Apr. 1, 2016 10:53 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Chicago Bulls are invested in Jimmy Butler. They signed him to a five-year, $90-plus million contract last summer with the clear intention of making him their franchise player.

But the combination of a lost season and a hazy future have spawned numerous trade rumors, and Butler's time in Chicago may come to an end this summer.

If the two-time All-Star had a say in the matter (he doesn't), Butler would stay put (via ESPN):

"I don't plan on going anywhere. I can't control what everybody else does. I know that this is the city that I love, Chicago. And I want to wear that jersey. I want to wear that name on the front, and I wear it proudly. All I got to do is continue to control what I can control. That's try to help this team win games." Butler's name has been bounced around in trade speculation since around the All-Star break, in part because of the Bulls' lackluster 38-37 record under first-year coach Fred Hoiberg..."To tell you the truth, I don't pay attention to the rumors," Butler said. "Somebody sent [the story] to me today, and I just clicked off of it. I mean, why am I getting in [to the speculation]? I can't control it. I can't say don't do this or don't do that. That's not my job. If I do what I'm supposed to do on the floor, then everything else takes care of itself. I'm a firm believer in that."

The Bulls are currently 1.0 game behind the eight-seeded Indiana Pacers. They're 5-5 over their past 10 games, but four of their last seven are against very beatable teams: the Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks. They also face a Cleveland Cavaliers squad that could very well rest everybody if they have the top seed already locked up.

Apart from the obvious, why does all this matter? From the outside looking in, the chance Chicago steps back and aggressively looks to deal Butler could increase if it doesn't make the playoffs. What's the point in holding onto a highly paid star in his prime if there are limited ways to build around him and be competitive? Chicago should instead focus on the future, and try to grab as many assets as it can.

The Bulls have the seventh-lowest net rating since the All-Star break, with an offense and a defense that both rank in the bottom 10. It's a floundering basketball team, and moving Butler this summer could give the organization the jumper cables it needs.