ESPN First Take - Rumore continue to swirl about Celtics acquiring Jimmy butler
Jimmy Butler hopes the Bulls dont trade him away.
There have been rumors that Chicago may get rid of its All-Star shooting guard, but hes not losing sleep over it.
Butler, 27, is averaging 24.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.8 steals through 51 games.
Per CSN Chicago:
Whats Thursday? Oh, trade deadline, Butler said. I dont know. I dont know. Am I anxious? Come on, man. I dont worry about it. It dont bother or scare me none.
Hopefully Im not going to get traded but I dont know. I dont control that. Control what I can control, like going on vacation.
Not for me, said butler of the potential stress. Not saying Im untradeable but I dont think about that. If Im not in a Bulls uniform, Ill give you a hug and say goodbye to you.
Jimmy Butler Full Highlights 2016.01.28 at Lakers - 26 Pts, 10 Assists, 4 Stls, 2 GOOD!
DENVER Jimmy Butler doesnt want to get caught up in coach comparisons.
Especially when it comes down to talking about former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau compared to first-year coach Fred Hoiberg in the minutes department.
Thibodeau played Butler an average of 38.7 minutes per game the last two years and was all but crucified for it. Not only nationally, but even more unfairly, by his own front office.
Yet, Butler sits at 38.3 minutes per game this season.
Different coach, same workload. Only the narrative has changed.
I dont get into last year and this year, but I know I think both of the coaches really trust me to be out there on the floor a lot of the time and thats respect for me, Butler said. I really like pride myself upon that. They cant take me off the floor because they like what I bring whenever Im out there.
Ive never complained about that, Ive always wanted to play at the highest level at that. So why cant I be out there for as many minutes as I am?
Butler wasnt the only Bulls player with heavy minutes, either. Derrick Rose played 30 minutes a game last season although often under restrictions and entered this weekend playing 32.2 minutes per game.
The way Butler sees the entire minutes debate is star players should welcome the workload.
Your body is going to be worn down if you play, Butler said. Its hard with as many minutes as Ive played, but thats what the offseason is for is to break your body down so you can handle it whenever youre tired.
I love this group of guys. I love this game and the city of Chicago, so anytime I can play I want to play. I dont ever want to sit out. I dont ever want to be limited on how much or how hard I can go.
The return
Mike Dunleavys long-awaited season debut will likely take place Saturday night in Minnesota, as hes been sidelined since the start of training camp following back surgery.
While the veteran forward wasnt sure what type of minutes restriction he was going to be dealing with or what he could give the team, his hope was that he could at least help be a factor in more wins.
I mean, look, Im gonna do things that hopefully contribute to winning, things Ive done my whole career, Dunleavy said. What that is, its hard to pinpoint but just go out and do those things, play the game the right way, the way I know how to play it, and hopefully that ends up helping the team win games.
