“We have never made a call in regards to Jimmy Butler”, Forman said.
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In a post-draft interview with ESPN 1000, Forman acknowledged that he hasn’t spoken to Thibodeau since the former Bulls coach took the Timberwolves job.
The fact that he said his full name, Jimmy Butler, several times, is maybe a decent indicator to how serious the team is in keeping Jimmy Buckets the face of the franchise. Did we receive calls?
He said there weren’t any draft-night talks involving Butler despite the heavy dose of reports that claimed there was plenty of trade banter. Butler’s name was popping up as a player who would soon be on the move. Butler signed a contract last off-season but with the Bulls failure during 2015-16, many speculated he would be traded.
“We didn’t shop Jimmy Butler” is not the same as “we did not entertain trade talks about Jimmy Butler”.
The Boston Celtics really wanted to get Jimmy Butler but the Chicago Bulls won’t budge. We were in no talks with anybody. “We get a lot of calls on a lot of our players, and that’s stuff that happens all throughout the league”.
The Wolves are offering Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine for Jimmy Butler.
“When you have a special player like Jimmy, in order to move him, it’s got to be something that knocks your socks off”, Forman stated.
Forman was already the Bulls general manager when they drafted Butler as their 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Over the course of 73 appearances, the 25-year-old averaged a career-high 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals.
The bigger issue that emerged is this: Will Bulls fans trust a rebuilding plan designed and executed by a man so many find hard to believe?
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Forman comes across to those of us who know him as likable and amusing, but you never will hear the words candid or transparent used to describe the Bulls GM.
