Jimmy Butler excited for new-look Chicago Bulls and future of team

Jimmy Butler is excited to be a part of Team USA this summer, but the Chicago Bulls guard/forward is just as excited to work with the team's roster additions Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade when he returns from Rio.

Following the Bulls' 42-40 season, they added free-agent guards Rondo and Wade in an attempt to retool/reshape the team's roster, and Butler is ready to get to work with the new backcourt.

"Whoever is the top team in the East, we want to be among those teams. We're all chasing a championship," Butler said. "I think with the team we have, we're fine. With (Rondo and Wade), I like our chances even more,

"I'm excited to play with those guys, and I'm ready to get started."

Wade, who will have his introductory news conference Friday at the Advocate Center, was perhaps the most surprising move the Bulls made this off-season, but not to Butler. He says he wasn't surprised Wade decided to come to Chicago from Miami but is happy he decided to come home.

"Shocked? No. Not the way everything went down from what I hear and the little bit that I see," Butler said. "He did a great job for the Miami organization and their fans. I'm excited to have D-Wade here. This is where he's from and having him represent Chicago."

"I'm excited to suit up with these guys. I think everybody's excited. It's a brand new start for a lot of people, but when we get together and go to war, I think it will be the same mentality Chicago has always had."

Butler, who averaged a career-high 21 points last season, doesn't want to sit back and rest on his laurels going into the upcoming 2016-2017 season. Whether it's his 2014-2015 Most Improved Player Award or even this year's selection to Team USA, he expects more out of himself now than ever.

"It better keep going up. I better keep getting better. If not, I'm going to be disappointed in myself," he said. "That means I will have settled and stopped doing what's got me to this point. I don't see that happening."

Team USA will take on Venezuela at the United Center on Friday in its fourth of five scrimmages before heading to Rio next week. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.

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