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Nikola Mirotic Catches Fire Vs Cavaliers, TNT Bulls Streak Lives On

By
Matt Peck
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nikola mirotic returns bulls practice

Amid a season of disappointment, speculation and turmoil, the #TNTBulls have provided fans with the most enjoyable moments. Enjoyable, but also maddening. If Fred Hoiberg’s crew can constantly win games against primetime-worthy opponents, why can’t they beat the NBA’s basement dwellers on a consistent basis?

No one knows.

And yet, the TNT streak lives on as the Bulls conquered LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night 99-93. That’s a 4-0 season sweep over the defending champions and 20 straight wins when the Bulls play home games on TNT. Rajon Rondo led a furious rally in the 3rd quarter, which Chicago won 37-21 to take their first lead since the 1st quarter. Rondo flirted with a triple double, finishing with 7 points, 15 assists and 9 rebounds. The 15 dimes were a season high for the veteran point guard. Jimmy Butler chipped in with 25 points on 10-17 shooting.

But this win was all about the Man of March: Nikola Mirotic.

ThreeKola

Mirotic has been on a tear in the back half of March. His three best scoring nights of the season have come in the last four games. He poured in 28 points each in wins over Detroit and Milwaukee. In those contests Niko shot a combined 10-15 on three pointers. He kept that hot streak going against Cleveland, scoring 28 points again on 6-11 from downtown. In doing so, Mirotic became the first player in Bulls franchise history to make 6 three pointers in back-to-back games.

This was the continuation of another strange trend on #TNTBulls Night. Mirotic led all NBA players in 4th quarter scoring during his rookie campaign of 2014-15. After a disappointing start to his sophomore season, Niko bounced back with another strong March in 2016. This season, his March numbers look like this: 14.2 points (47.9% FG), 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists.

Mirotic is entering a restricted free agency this summer. He’s expressed his desire to stay in Chicago, and is playing like he wants to prove to his employers that he’s worth the investment. Can he keep this momentum going as the Bulls fight for a playoff spot?

6 games to play, and the Bulls are 1 game behind Miami and Indiana for the final spot. Let’s hope ThreeKola keeps it going. They’ll need him.

Addison Russell Comes Back With A Vengeance After Missing A Week For The Cubs

By
Aldo Soto
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There were some rumblings that Addison Russell wouldn’t be healthy enough to start on Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs, but that talk quickly disappeared. As a matter of fact, after missing a week with a back issue, Joe Maddon put Russell back in the lineup for Thursday night’s game against the Houston Astros and objectively speaking he was amazing.

I know there’s been a lot of discussion on who the next big breakout player will be for the Cubs and the popular choice right now seems to be Willson Contreras. I mean, it’s not like you could go wrong picking anyone, but Russell is still only 23-years-old and has a lot of room to get better offensively. Since last year, his teammates have been calling him a future MVP and it’s easy to see why. Russell is already an elite shortstop and his power numbers are going to keep increasing. He hit 21 home runs in 2016, and on Thursday night Russell hit his sixth of the spring.

Russell is also driving the ball to right and right-center, which is a great sign.

So, any panic you might have had about Russell’s back can now be squashed because he looked pretty damn good coming back.

Sunday can’t get here soon enough.

How Bears Draft Rumors Currently Rank The Top Quarterbacks

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft rumors

Chicago Bears draft rumors are fun. They can also be hit and miss. You know, because they’re rumors? Nonetheless if one were to take them in as a majority, certain patterns begin to emerge. Ones that can at least offer a picture of what the team might be thinking headed into the upcoming draft. Of course nothing captivates more people this year than what they’re thinking on the quarterbacks.

This is the first year of the post-Jay Cutler era. A simultaneously exciting and terrifying time. Mike Glennon looks like he’ll be the first man to get a crack at the job. Understandable that the team would prefer somebody with experience. That said it leaves a wide open question unanswered. Will GM Ryan Pace still look to draft a quarterback high?

Knowing the answer to that is darn near impossible. So here’s a potential way to at least get a gauge. Using notable rumors surrounding the team, this article will form a picture of how the top quarterbacks rank for the Bears and where they might be willing to grab them.

Mitch Trubisky is the only top 10 option

North Carolina stand out Mitch Trubisky ranks as the #1 quarterback on most draft boards. This became reality after his successful showing at the scouting combine. Some have even gone so far as to declare he’s the only one worthy of going in the top 10. Would the Bears consider him at #3 overall? No major source has indicated that, though some have hinted (strongly) that the team loves him.

Charlie Campbell of Walter Football saying so a few weeks ago.

“The Bears grab a potential franchise quarterback to build around. There is scuttlebutt that Chicago loves Trubisky.”

Pace has stuck by his best player available stance though. He’s also demonstrated complete confidence in Mike Glennon. So at #3? That feels unlikely. However, if the Bears were to trade down then the feeling is Trubisky would most definitely become a serious option.

Deshaun Watson is a trade up target

Yes, he’s a fantastic winner and the most experienced quarterback in the 2017 class. Don’t be fooled though. Every snippet of information coming out war rooms is that Deshaun Watson is not going in the top 10. He’s expected to go somewhere between #11 and perhaps even the end of the first round. That’s how unpredictable his stock is at this point. The feel of it has gone from less about the Bears considering him at #3 and more about hoping he slips down the board just enough for them to pounce.

When thinking about it, what sounds more appealing? Drafting Watson at #3 or getting a top defender there and then jumping back up the board to grab him in the 20s? It’s really not a hard decision and makes a ton of sense. Sure it might cost a decent draft pick to pull off. Still, getting the quarterback you covet and an extra potential star defender makes the price worth paying.

DeShone Kizer is the fallback

There is hardly a consensus with almost every player in every draft. That’s what makes it so unpredictable. That being said, there is a general belief that Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is the current favorite to slip the most of the top four. Latest estimates have him going somewhere in the bottom of the first to the early second round. That would put him right in line with the Bears, who pick again at #36.

As stated above Kizer would be the ideal option for them at that spot. He’s got first round talent all the way but it’s clear he’s still raw in a lot of areas. Some feel he should’ve stayed in school. Remember he’s only 21-years old. He isn’t ready for the pro level. It will take a year or two to develop him properly at best. Former Bears scout Greg Gabriel said Kizer would end up being the Derek Carr of the 2017 class.

Well Carr went 36th overall to the Raiders in 2014. Just saying.

That said this is how the board stacks up according to the Bears draft rumors. There is still a month left before the action begins. Things may change but the picture is forming. Trubisky is their only top 10 option. Watson is one they hope falls enough to go get. Kizer is the last resort. Is it any coincidence they met with Trubisky the least and Kizer the most?

That’s classic pre-draft strategy.

But what about Patrick???

Of course many are going to ask where in the hell is Patrick Mahomes in all this? All that is known about him to this point is the Bears have met with him privately and they “like” him. The Texas Tech gunslinger has a red hot draft stock at the moment. One would think the Bears would be in on that. The thing is?

Mahomes may be the rawest of the four QBs and doesn’t fit the mold of what Pace is looking for. He didn’t elevate the program like Watson. He also doesn’t play a more advanced pocket style of play like Trubisky and Kizer can. He’s a backyard player who sits in shotguns, scrambles around until he can make a big play. Fun to watch for sure. Also not quite a fit for what this Bears team does. He’s another Cutler-type. We all saw what happened with that.

That may not make some people happy, but there it is. Smart money say if the Bears plan to get a quarterback early, this is how the pecking order will stand. At least according to the rumors.

Luis Robert Shines During First Open Showcase

By
Emmet McClain
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Earlier today, prized international sensation Luis Robert took batting practice and ran through a couple drills for his first open showcase. Scouts from just about every team were in attendance to see the 6’3, 205-pound outfielder, including the White Sox.

The White Sox sent someone in particular to oversee Robert’s first workout. That would be Marco Paddy. For those who do not know, Paddy is the White Sox director of Latin American Scouting. In other words, Rick Hahn and the rest of the front office are not messing around and just sending someone to watch because they are obligated. Quite the opposite in fact. Rick Hahn and the White Sox are dead set on bringing this kid to the South Side. They already have a private workout set up with Robert sometime next week, where they can see him do more of this.

The sound the ball makes coming off of Robert’s bat should be music to any baseball fan’s ears. That is EASY power. Granted it was just batting practice, but he has an incredibly smooth swing. However, power is not the only thing that Luis Robert brings to the table. In fact, it is not even his best tool. That would be his speed.

6.2 seconds! For a comparison, White Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada, quite the speedster himself, ran the 60 in 6.6. A 6.2 60 would be an 80 grade speed tool to most scouts. There are probably only a handful of players in the MLB who can fly as fast as Robert can. With his combination of speed and raw power, this kid’s potential is limitless.

Who Gets Him?

Where Robert signs will heavily depend on when the MLB clears him as a free agent. If that happens before June 15th, then teams that are already over the international spending pool limit can still offer him contracts. If he is not cleared until after June 15th, then every team already over the pool is automatically eliminated from offering him a contract. The White Sox are going to make him a lucrative offer regardless of when he is cleared, but they would automatically become the favorite to sign him if he is not declared a free agent until after June 15th. Perhaps the best thing about Robert not being declared a free agent until after June 15th is that the max a team can offer him is just $10MM. Locking up a talent like Robert for that cheap would be an absolute steal for any team.

In short, the White Sox chances of signing Robert are definitely high either way, but the best case scenario for them is that the MLB does not declare him a free agent until after June 15th. The Luis Robert hype train is starting to pick up steam around the league. The final stop could very well be 35th and Shields.

Move Over Tim Tebow, White Sox Manager Rick Renteria Saved Someone’s Life

By
Aldo Soto
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Tim Tebow puts his hand on a fan who is having a seizure, prays and waits for paramedics to come and his “legend” grows. Big fucking deal. Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria gets the job done himself. Tim Tebow prays, Rick Renteria saves lives. Well, at least one life.

CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes wrote an in-depth profile on Renteria, who takes over the rebuilding White Sox this year. Do yourself a favor and give it a read. What caught my eye was Hayes throwing out a few more interesting facts about the White Sox manager on Twitter.

It turns out that Renteria will save your life if needed.

Rick >>> Tim

So in review, three things Rick Renteria is better at than Tim Tebow.

1 – Saving lives

2 – Playing baseball

3 – Throwing a football

Rick Renteria, the real messiah. Hopefully he can save the White Sox too because 2005 was more than a decade ago and the team hasn’t even been to the playoffs since 2008. But hey, the last team who had Renteria managing a young, rebuilding team ended up doing all right. So, we’ll see if Rick can go 2-for-2 in Chicago.

Interesting Mike Glennon Fact That May Tip Off Bears Draft Plan

By
Erik Lambert
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mike glennon bears

Let’s just get this out of the way. This is not some clever ploy to hammer home another Chicago Bears drafting a quarterback idea. So if you’re sick of it, relax. No this is more geared towards what the team might be planning in regards to new starting quarterback Mike Glennon himself. So what is it we know about the man?

Most of the data has already been logged. He’s 27-years old, has started 18 games in his career including 13 as a rookie in 2013. He went 5-13 in that span and was eventually benched in favor of Josh McCown. This after Lovie Smith became the new head coach. Since then he’s bided his time as a backup behind Jameis Winston awaiting another opportunity. All told he’s thrown for just over 4,000 yards with 30 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Not too bad considering the ugly situation he had to live with coaching and roster-wise those two seasons he played. So what is something people don’t know about the man? At something that isn’t common knowledge. Well here’s a fascinating tidbit that could have big draft ramifications for the Bears.

Mike Glennon loves using the tight ends

It’s true. One thing that became apparent during his run as a starting quarterback is Mike Glennon loved to throw to tight ends. Case and point was Tim Wright in 2013. He was targeted 76 times that season for 571 yards and five touchdowns The next year Glennon was benched. Wright has 49 targets total since then.

This may not seem like a big deal in the grand context, but it is. Teams have a responsibility of doing everything in their power to make the starting quarterback a success. If said QB informs them he loves to use the tight end position as a primary offensive weapon, then the task is obvious. Find players who can make that plan of attack work.

Class advantages

In fact the Bears have already put it into operation with the signing of free agent Dion Sims. However, it’s unlikely they’re finished. The 2017 draft class is viewed by many as one of the richest in recent history when it comes to tight end talents. As many as six players are expected to go within the first two rounds. One of them is such a freak of nature that people are seriously considering him a threat to go in the top five.

Given the injury concerns with Zach Miller and the other unproven guys they have on the depth chart, it stands to reason Chicago is very much intent on adding to the position. Tight ends are en vogue these days and can be game changers. Don’t forget the best offense the Bears have had in years in 2013 featured a solid one in Martellus Bennett. The same man who just helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl. The same team who won the Super Bowl in 2014 with Rob Gronkowski.

Tight ends who can catch the football are valuable. Glennon deserves some credit for having the common sense to understand that. Make no mistake. The Sims signing doesn’t change the likelihood Chicago is gunning for more help there.

Ryan Pace Says Kevin White Needs To Step Up And Stay Healthy

By
Sports Mockery
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As the draft approaches, the Bears are expected to depend heavily on Kevin White to begin returning the investment Chicago used on him with the 7th overall pick in 2015. After a season-ending leg injury during training camp his rookie season and another just four games into his sophomore campaign, White’s luck hasn’t been very good since entering the NFL… to say the least.

Recently, head coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace spoke about White and their expectations moving forward.

“Obviously it’s not a great start to his career,” said Bears head coach John Fox, via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “I think he understands that greater than anybody. Because he’s been the one who’s had to deal with it. … I’m sure it has been frustrating. Anytime somebody is injured it’s frustrating for everybody–whether it’s fans, coaches, the player himself. But I think he’s a very resilient guy. That’s one of the biggest reasons why we drafted him. I think his makeup will prevail.”

Unfortunately, White has missed two crucial seasons to learn the speed of the pro game and grow at the receiver position which has inevitably hurt his reputation as an elite game-breaker. Coming out of West Virginia two years ago White was arguably the most athletic player in the entire draft. Ironically enough, he fell to the Bears and has only caught 19 balls since.

“Kevin is going to have to step up and stay healthy,” Pace said, via the Chicago Tribune’s Rich Campbell. “He knows that. He’s motivated.”

If the pressure wasn’t on White enough while entering into Chicago as the heir to Brandon Marshall, it will be now that number one wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is gone. A scenario of White suffering another season-ending injury would almost ensure his career as a Bear would be over, and it really hasn’t even started.

“When you do this for a living, I don’t think anybody has higher expectations (for you) than yourself and I would include Kevin in that,” Fox said. “So I can’t tell you everybody on the planet’s expectations. But I know they won’t be greater than his.  A lot goes into it.”

Many are confident that if White can stay healthy, he’ll eventually blossom into the player he was always expected to be. The key word in that sentence being “if.” He now has pins and screws in his leg.

Good luck this season Mr. White. Bear down.

Chicago Cubs Rival Emerge As “Sleeper” Team In Jose Quintana Trade Talks

By
Dan Fappiano
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One of the Chicago Cubs biggest rivals has emerged as a "sleeper" to land Jose Quintana. (Photo courtesy of Al Bello/Getty Images)

As Opening Day marches closer, Jose Quintana remains on the Chicago White Sox. Although the left-hander saw massive interest for most of the offseason, no team was able to match what General Manger Rick Hahn was asking for.

While Quintana enters the season with the White Sox, there’s no guarantee he ends the year on the South Side. There’s a very good chance the team moves him around the Trade Deadline.

In terms of who could trade for him, the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates remain the favorites. However it had been widely reported that both teams are being “passive” on the Quintana trade front.

If that remains the case, it appears as if a new team could sneak up and make a move for the White Sox ace.

Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports recently reported that the St. Louis Cardinals could be a “sleeper” team to land Jose Quintana. He wrote:

Word is, the Chicago White Sox believe the perceived favorites Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates have been largely “passive” in their pursuits of Jose Quintana. If that’s the case, someone else such as the St. Louis Cardinals could sneak in and grab Quintana.

While the belief now is that Quintana won’t be traded until closer to the trade deadline, the Cardinals could be a sleeper team for Quintana. Word is, they have quietly showed interest in the White Sox pitching ace, and the Cardinals have the combination of young players and prospects to make it work.

Perfect Fit

The Cardinals rotation isn’t as bad as the Astros or Pirates. But it would certainly benefit from a guy like Jose Quintana.

Currently Carlos Martinez is slated to start Opening Day followed by: Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn and Mike Leake. Top prospect Alex Reyes was supposed to make the leap to the MLB this season, however he will spend the year on the DL after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

To demonstrate what Quintana would offer the Cardinals, we’re going to play a game. Below is going to be the 2016 stat line of Wacha, Leake and Quintana in no particular order. Since Lynn was injured in 2016, he won’t be featured. Your job is to pick which pitcher you would rather have in your rotation.

Pitcher 1: 9-12, 4.69 ERA, 125/30 K/BB ratio in 30 games and 176.2 innings

Pitcher 2: 13-12, 3.20 ERA, 181/50 K/BB ratio in 32 games and 208 innings

Pitcher 3: 7-7, 5.09 ERA, 114/45 K/BB ratio in 27 games and 138 innings

I’m assuming most of you would’ve picked Pitcher 2 as he had the most wins, strikeouts and innings while holding the lowest ERA. If that was the case, then you in fact picked Jose Quintana. Pitcher 1 was Mike Leake and Pitcher 3 was Michael Wacha.

Quintana has thrown atleast 200 innings and 160 strikeouts in the MLB. He offers the Cardinals consistency and would give St. Louis one of the most deadly combination atop the rotation with Carlos Martinez.

What Would It Cost?

Heyman didn’t disclose who the Cardinals would be willing to offer. While it’s all speculation at this point, St. Louis does have a few prospects in their farm system who could intrigue the White Sox.

Catcher Carson Kelly is a name that jumps off the page. MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked as the Cardinals’ second best prospect and the 39th best prospect in baseball. In 471 minor league games, Kelly has hit .248 with 35 home runs and 202 RBIs.

Kelly is arguably the best catcher in the minor leagues. Adding him would allow the White Sox to move Zack Collins to first base on a full-time basis. Kelly’s defensive behind the dish is unparalleled. The Cardinals seem focused on signing Yadier Molina to a long-term extension, meaning that Kelly could possibly be had in a trade.

Another option would be shortstop Delvin Perez, who MLB Pipeline ranks as the Cardinals fourth best prospect and the 91st best prospect in baseball. In his professional debut, Perez hit .294 with 19 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

At just 18, Perez needs much more time in the minor-leaguers. But he offers elite speed and could potentially be the White Sox third baseman of the future. An infield of Collins, Moncada, Anderson and Perez could wreak havoc in the MLB for years to come.

Outside of Kelly and Perez the Cardinals have intriguing prospects in Harrison Bader, Luke Weaver and many others. There’s also a chance that St. Louis is willing to move MLB level talent.

Sports Mockery’s own Sean Sears is reporting that the Cardinals could move Kolten Wong in a deal for Quintana.

Wong obviously wouldn’t be the headliner, but he has fared well during his MLB career. In 416 major league games, Wong has hit .248 with 28 home runs, 126 RBIs and 45 stolen bases. Wong has proven he can hit MLB pitching, and could perhaps shift to center field on the South Side.

For now, fans are left in the dark for what the Cardinals could potentially offer for Quintana. However while they don’t get as much credit as the Astros or Pirates, St. Louis has more than enough young talent to pull off a trade for the White Sox ace.

Author’s Reaction

The Cardinals make a ton of sense as a potential landing spot for Jose Quintana. As they look to battle the Cubs in the NL Central, adding a pitcher of Quintana’s value could help them gain groud.

St. Louis also has the prospect pool to get a deal done. The Cardinals are poised to be ready to compete for a very long time. While having a good future is important, I’m sure the team cares more about a chance to win the World Series.

However the Cardinals rotation isn’t as bad as the Astros or Pirates. There’s a chance that St. Louis is outbid by Houston or Pittsburgh. It’ll come to how bad the Cardinals want the White Sox ace.

Overall, the Jose Quintana trade talks aren’t going away anytime soon. There’s a good chance he is moved at the Trade Deadline, but if Rick Hahn is unimpressed, he will continue to hold on the his prized possession.

It’s yet to be seen where he will end up, but the Cardinals have thrown their hat in the ring, and could be serious competitors to the Chicago Cubs if they added Jose Quintana.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

Mel Kiper Is Still Gushing About The Bears 2016 Draft Class

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears rankings

For the first time in what feels like ages, the Chicago Bears 2016 draft class gave hope to fans everywhere. Any draft can have one good player in it. Case and point being the 2013 version with Kyle Long emerging from otherwise burnt wreckage. The only way to build a truly successful team though is to hit on multiple picks per draft. Something that became lost on this franchise for almost a decade.

That may finally be changing thanks to the arrival of GM Ryan Pace. After an unfortunate false start in 2015 due mostly to injury problems, his 2016 run was quite the showcase. So much in fact that several noted draft analysts still find time to talk about it almost a calendar year after it happened. None more so than ESPN personality Mel Kiper.

Smitten for the Bears 2016 draft class

In his final grades for teams from that draft, he couldn’t help but offer his ongoing admiration for the job Pace pulled off. Top to bottom in his minds it’s a group rich in instant production and long-term potential.

“The Bears have to get a really good grade so far, because at two spots they got guys who are already really good NFL players — among everybody, not just rookies — and they got exceptional value. I’ll start there: Cody Whitehair is already one of the top handful of centers in the NFL, and the Bears got him late in Round 2. Jordan Howard is already one of the top five or six running backs in the NFL, and the Bears got him in Round 5. On a per-snap basis, he was every bit as good and arguably better than Ezekiel Elliott.

I expressed concern at the time about Leonard Floyd’s frame and how well he could hold up, but he had 12 starts, seven sacks, made my All-Rookie Team and showed he can be a disruptive force. I said then I thought Nick Kwiatkoski could start early, and that could be the case in Year 2. From there, the only question is if the Bears can develop some of the secondary talent they added. If so, it’s a bonus on a solid class.”

Getting one player in a draft with Pro Bowl potential is terrific. Pace may have gotten three. Howard dominated from the moment he stepped on the field last year. He steamrolled defenses for 1,313 yards and averaged a whopping 5.2 yards per carry. Some wonder how much better it might’ve been had he not be kept on a leash through the first three games.

Not a one-man show

Whitehair might actually be the more amazing story though. A left tackle at Kansas State, he was slated to make the switch to left guard. That became a problem when starting center Hroniss Grasu tore his ACL. Scrambling for answers, the Bears got a reprieve when Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton fell into their laps late in free agency. Whitehair was asked to make room for him by moving to center, a position he’d never played. A few months later he’s ranked as the sixth best at the position in the NFL. Wow.

As for Floyd, he battled through a series of unlucky injuries in 2016. He finished with seven sacks and a very memorable sack-fumble-touchdown on Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Doing this despite playing with a frame that was considered not NFL ready. He was too thin and needed time to bulk up. Try to imagine what will happen if and when he gets that taken care of.

If this group progress as hoped, this team may have the core in place they need to build around. To think they have a draft coming up where they hold a top five pick in each of the top four rounds. Pace has a gigantic opportunity to add even more firepower to a young and ascending roster. He better. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to survive another 3-13 finish in 2017.

Front Office Source Says Bulls Star Jimmy Butler Is “As Good As Gone”

By
Matt Peck
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bulls star jimmy butler makes change representation

As the Bulls battle Miami, Indiana and Detroit for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, most fans have at least one eye on the upcoming summer months. For a team in desperate need of change to get out their NBA purgatory rut, there is an expectation and demand for big moves to be made. None more jarring than the potential trade of three-time All Star Jimmy Butler.

Butler has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay in Chicago and lead the Bulls back to championship glory. But as the roster is currently constructed, he doesn’t have much help and championship contention feels light years away. Perhaps it would be in the front office’s best interest to trade Butler – a star in his prime – for younger talent and draft picks to help shape a new era in Chicago. It’s something Gar Forman and John Paxson won’t just do for the sake of doing it. They’ve made it very clear they’ll only trade Butler if the package they receive is of equal or greater value.

That’s their story now, anyway. If Bulls brass finally sees the writing on the wall, they may ease up on their demand for a king’s ransom to part with Butler. At least one front office executive believes Jimmy’s departure from Chicago this summer is already a sure thing.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor released a column earlier today touching on a number of NBA storylines for the summer of 2017. Among them, he cites an NBA front office executive as a source for the following statement:

“Paul George and Jimmy Butler were involved in trade rumors at the deadline, and all indications are that those conversations will resume this offseason. One front-office source told me recently that Butler is ‘as good as gone,’ while George sounds like a player who wants out.” – Kevin O’Connor

As good as gone. Given the way Paxson and Forman spoke about the weak offers they heard for Butler at the trade deadline last month, it’s hard to believe they’ll deal him for scraps. Knowing that fans are already upset with their recent “decisions” – and seeing how Kings fans reacted to the DeMarcus Cousins trade – GarPax won’t risk losing Butler and losing the trade that sends him away.

Or, according to one NBA executive, maybe they will. It will likely come down to who owns the first pick in the 2017 draft. If Boston gets it, those ongoing talks between Danny Ainge and GarPax will likely resume. A negotiation has to start somewhere, and it’s hard to see the Bulls letting Butler go without getting a guarantee to take their pick from a stocked draft class.

While Butler and his teammates try to fight their way into playoff contention, his bosses could be playing out ideal scenarios for his Chicago exit.

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