Report: Chicago Bulls, Jimmy Butler Working On Five-Year Deal

Prior to the start of the 2014-15 campaign, the Chicago Bulls and Jimmy Butler were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. But despite that fact, Butler always remained confident that he would be in a Bulls uniform next season.

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And despite the numerous reports about him being interested in signing with other teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Butler and the Bulls are working on a five-year deal worth approximately $95 million, with a player option after the fourth year.  After coming to terms with Mike Dunleavy on a three-year deal earlier today, the Bulls have retained two key players of a roster that is capable of competing for a championship when everyone is healthy.

Back in October when Butler was asked about the two camps not being able to reach an agreement he offered this assessment to Yahoo! Sports as the primary reason for him rejecting the Bulls’ offer:

"“It came down to me deciding that I want to bet on myself. It was about me believing that I put the work in this summer to become a better player with the hope that my improvement will give the Bulls a better chance to win a championship.”"

While Butler had earned the reputation as a solid defender, there were questions as to whether or not he could become the shooting guard the organization had been seeking the past few years to play alongside Derrick Rose. This concern was supported by the fact that Butler was coming off a 2013-14 campaign in which he shot just 39.7 percent overall and 28.3 percent from beyond the arc.

This past season, however, Butler promptly put all speculation to rest about his ability while becoming one of the best two-way guards in the league. In fact, despite missing 17 games with an injured elbow, Butler posted career highs in points (20.0), rebounds (5.8) and assists (3.3). Furthermore, he shot 46.2 percent from the floor overall, including a respectable 37.8 percent from three-point range.

And if his performance during the regular season wasn’t enough to show that he had finally arrived, Butler went on to post solid numbers during Chicago’s postseason run as well. In 12 playoff games, Butler’s averages included 22.9 points on 44 percent shooting to go along with 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists. And as a result of his outstanding play this season, Butler became the first Bulls player to win the Most Improved Player award. Needless to say, this honor is well deserved on the heels of an outstanding season.

What this means for the Bulls is that they keep one of the most dynamic backcourts in tact for at least the next two seasons. And for Butler, as well as the rest of the world, it means that dreams can in fact come true when an individual willingly puts in the time, energy and effort to hone their craft.

Next: Report: Chicago Bulls, Mike Dunleavy Agree To Three-Year Deal

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