Butler stays with Bulls for deal worth over $90 million
The Bulls didn't waste any time taking care of business on the first official day of NBA free-agency.
After reaching an agreement to bring back forward Mike Dunleavy in the morning, all-star guard Jimmy Butler agreed to a new deal on Wednesday afternoon.
Butler's deal is worth more than $90 million over five years and reportedly has an opt-out clause after the fourth year that would allow him to become a free agent in 2019. The exact figures for Butler's new contract won't be known until the new salary cap and maximum salaries are set next week.
Butler was a restricted free agent, so there was never much chance he would leave the Bulls. They could have matched any offer Butler received from another team.
The Bulls could have signed Butler to an extension at a lower price last summer, but that was before Butler turned in an all-star season, averaging a career-high 20.0 points per game. He won the league's Most Improved Player Award last season.
Dunleavy's new deal is worth a reported $14.4 million over three years. That's a step up from the $6 million over two years he received when joining the Bulls as a free agent in 2013. But Dunleavy's salary seemed minuscule compared to some of the contracts that went down around the league Wednesday.
Kevin Love announced he would stay in Cleveland for $110 million over five years. Danny Green will reportedly return to San Antonio for $45 million over four years.
Atlanta's DeMarre Carroll reached an agreement with Toronto (reported four years, $60 million), Tyson Chandler with Phoenix (four years, $52 million).
Some other deals reported Wednesday were Brandon Knight agreeing to stay in Phoenix and Goran Dragic in Miami. The Brooklyn Nets will keep both Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young. San Antonio is expected to trade Tiago Splitter to Atlanta, opening more cap room for a chance at Portland free agent LaMarcus Aldridge. The first free agent to switch teams was Dallas forward Al-Farouq Aminu jumping to Portland.
Barring a surprise trade, the Bulls will have essentially the same roster as last season. They'll add rookie forward Bobby Portis and are looking for a backup point guard.
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