Timberwolves’ Jimmy Butler may consider signing with Bulls in 2019
In his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, All-Star forward Jimmy Butler helped the franchise snap an over decade-long playoff drought. He played a major part in helping lift the Timberwolves into becoming a legitimate playoff team in the stacked Western Conference.
However, the door still remains open on Butler’s long-term future as he has just two more years left on his five-year, $92.3 million deal that could see him hit the open market in 2019 with the final year of his contract for the 2019-20 season being a player option. According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler has left the door open to a return to the Chicago Bulls down the line.
“I loved the city of Chicago, and I love the Reinsdorfs,’’ Butler said. “I’m forever grateful for them in taking a chance on me, allowing me to become the player that I am today. It’s still incredible to me that I got to hoop in a Bulls jersey. I got to play in the house that [Michael] Jordan built, that [Scottie] Pippen played, all that stuff. That’s because of the -Reinsdorfs.
“If the time comes where I say, ‘You know what, I do want to end this thing in a Bulls jersey,’ I think that would be amazing. But it’s all about being wanted and winning.’’
The 28-year-old clearly has a strong connection and appreciation for the Bulls given what he accomplished with the franchise. He spent the first six years of his career with the franchise where he became a key part of the team’s success helping lead them to deep playoff runs a pair of Central division titles during that span.
Although the organization made the decision to trade him last summer that doesn’t appear to have affected his respect and admiration for Chicago. Granted, any possibility of this happening depends on the direction of both the Bulls and Timberwolves over next season.
Minnesota currently has a promising young group together led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Meanwhile, Chicago has a plethora of young talent with Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Lauri Markkanen. All of this could simply come down to where Butler feels he fits in best both and off the court. There is a lot that could change from now until next summer, but it is evident that a reunion with the Bulls could be a realistic scenario.
