The Chicago Bulls enter the 2014-15 NBA season with massive expectations. Derrick Rose is back and healthy, Pau Gasol is arriving to facilitate the offense and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah anchors the league’s No. 1 scoring defense.
Unfortunately, one of the team’s most important players has gone down with an early-season injury.
Starting shooting guard Jimmy Butler is currently battling a thumb injury. It’s listed as a sprain, but it’s severe enough for the fourth-year defensive specialist to be sidelined.
According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said that Butler will miss two-to-four weeks.
Thibodeau said Butler is out 2-4 weeks. Wow.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 29, 2014
Any injury is tragic in its nature, but this is awful timing for Butler.
The 25-year-old is currently engaged in contract negotiations on an extension with the Bulls. If the two sides are unable to come to terms by the October 31 deadline, the former Marquette Golden Eagles star will become a restricted free agent in 2015.
This ill-timed injury could seal his fate. He missed 15 games in 2013-14 and is injured again one season later.
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, a deal is not expected to be struck by Friday.
Source: Jimmy Butler & Bulls unlikely to agree to contract extension before Fri deadline. Same w/Kawhi Leonard & SA
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) October 29, 2014
Regardless of what happens with his extension, Chicago is unlikely to let Butler walk should he reach restricted free agency.
Butler, an All-Defensive Second Team honoree in 2014, is the primary wing defender on a defensive-oriented team. He’s tasked with taking on players at all three perimeter positions and specializes in man-to-man defense.
In his absence, the likes of Aaron Brooks, Mike Dunleavy, Kirk Hinrich, Doug McDermott and Tony Snell will be tasked with making up for his absence at shooting guard and small forward.