Much has been said about the rumored rift between Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose and his teammate, guard-forward Jimmy Butler, and despite the claim of the Bulls management that all is well, it doesn't stop Butler from leaving if he really wants to.
A lot of teams are expected to go after Butler, but it seems he is set on joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
Butler is reportedly keen on signing up with the purple and gold squad for one year, which should get all the Laker fans up and jumping. However, complications exist.
One is that the CBA calls for restricted free agents to get no less than two-year contracts on offer sheets. No problem, Butler could consider that. Besides, one year should be enough before that big salary cap increase in 2016, right?
But the story does not end there. Should Butler sign up for a one- or two-year deal, the Bulls can easily match that offer. In fact, a short-term deal could work to the advantage of the Bulls as they try to squirm their way towards a workable budget that includes keeping Butler on the roster.
With that said, Butler's wishes seem to be all but futile, though he could always do it the proper way and say up front that he wants to play for another ballclub.
If that were the case, it would be hard to see him landing with the Lakers, since the Bulls will be asking for something in return. Given that their team hasn't even taken shape, who could they possibly offer for Butler? Julius Randle? Nick Young? Maybe even Jordan Clarkson, though it seems highly unlikely.
If rumors are indeed true that Butler is looking to sign up elsewhere, this practically douses water on the Bull's claim that all is well between Butler and Rose.
