Is Butler The Man?
Paxson faced several questions about potential trade talks involving Jimmy Butler, and what the All Star’s status is on the team finishing the season and entering the offseason. Paxson was, shall we say, indefinite in his response.
“Did you have talks today or recently about Butler?”
Pax on Butler "Ppl call all the time. You talk to every team…You have to have a certainty of what you're getting back" #Bulls
— Matt Peck (@Bulls_Peck) February 24, 2017
Pax "There was nothing remotely close – we value Jimmy very highly – if you're gunna go that direction, you have to get several young assets
— Matt Peck (@Bulls_Peck) February 24, 2017
Pax "You have to give great respect to a guy that's made himself into the player that Jimmy is." #Bulls
— Matt Peck (@Bulls_Peck) February 24, 2017
Okay. That’s a fairly clear answer on the deadline trade talks. Paxson and his partners didn’t hear any offers come close to something they deemed to be of equal or greater value to Jimmy. Next question.
“Is the plan to continue to build around Jimmy?”
Pax "Right now, today, Jimmy's on our roster. He's under contract for 2 more years…This league is fluid, things can change quickly" #Bulls
— Matt Peck (@Bulls_Peck) February 24, 2017
That’s a no. Again, Paxson refused to say that Butler is their franchise guy. Can you imagine how much that pisses off Jimmy, considering everything he’s doing for this team right now? Pax is clearly hedging his bet, already preparing to revisit trade talks for Butler leading up to the draft this summer.
Will the Bulls making or missing the playoffs have any impact on their decision to keep or move Butler this summer?
will playoffs Y/N have impact on keeping Butler? Pax: "No. Not at all. It'll depend on the direction we choose to go at that time." #Bulls
— Matt Peck (@Bulls_Peck) February 24, 2017
Sounds like Pax has no idea what direction that will be. Still, the hypocrisy of praise and indifference towards Butler is nothing compared to what Paxson said about the “false narrative” infiltrating the media that he and his colleagues don’t see eye to eye.
The following quotes are so maddening I can’t even respond to them…
[USE ARROWS TO CONTINUE READING]
