If you think that the Chicago Bulls' unwillingness to budge on their original four-year, $40 million offer to budding superstar Jimmy Butler before the October 31st contract deadline means they're willing to let him walk in restricted free agency in July, think again.
Per David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, "they fully expect to sign Butler to a max deal next July before another team even gets involved to tempt him with an offer sheet, which the CBA says they can after the moratorium ends. They accept that the size of Butler’s contract will put the Bulls in position to pay the luxury tax, something Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf says he will do for a championship contender his team is."
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Haugh adds that the organization is currently taking a "proactive approach" to ensure themselves of a Butler/Derrick Rose pairing in the team's backcourt for years to come.
Chicago is currently projected to land $14.3 million short of the projected luxury tax line with current commitments for 2015. Butler's projected max salary would fall in the $15.8 million range, necessitating some maneuvering by the Bulls in order or a deal to get done.
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