Now signed, Butler talks state of the Bulls

The NBA world was preoccupied with DeAndre Jordan drama on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Clippers center had committed to sign with Dallas as a free agent, but apparently changed his mind. Accounts of the day included several descriptive emoji messages from NBA players and a photo of Jordan's door barricaded shut, sent by Clippers teammate Blake Griffin.

According to reports, several Clippers met with Jordan in his Houston home and the group refused to leave or let him have any contact with the Mavericks until the free-throw challenged, rebounding machine officially re-signed with the Clips, which he did.

On the opposite end of the drama scale was the Chicago Bulls' re-signing of free agent Jimmy Butler.

Initially, there were rumors of Butler wanting to sign a short-term deal, being intrigued by the Los Angeles Lakers, etc. Since he was a restricted free agent, there was virtually no chance of Butler leaving the Bulls. And when it was all said and done, the transaction was remarkably simple.

"It was pretty easy," Butler said Thursday at the United Center. "We had been talking all year long about getting a deal done anyway. When the date hit, it was a no-brainer. I know where I wanted to be.

"Rumors are rumors. I guess that's what they're there for, to entertain you all."

Butler signed a five-year deal worth roughly $95 million. According to reports, he'll have the option to become a free agent after the fourth year. The deal will start at $16.4 million this season.

"Chicago is where I wanted to be. I love playing here," Butler added. "I love the city. The fans like me a little bit."

The Bulls tried last year to sign Butler to an extension. The exact numbers aren't public knowledge but there has been speculation Butler would have agreed if the Bulls offered $48 million over four years.

Was it a mistake for the Bulls to wait? Maybe, but the current contract is probably a better scenario. This wasn't a case of Butler becoming a free agent at the right time. He went out last season and earned a max contract by averaging 20 points and making the all-star team, along with a second turn on the NBA's all-defensive squad.

Butler is on track to go down in NBA lore as one of the best value draft picks of all time, chosen with the No. 30 selection out of Marquette in 2011.

"He's getting a max contract that he's worked so hard for. He deserves it. He's earned it," Bulls general manager Gar Forman said. "Jimmy, really, is everything we want to be, now and in the future."

At the time, Butler said he was betting on himself. On Thursday, he admitted to having some doubts about passing on the extension last year.

"I was extremely nervous and I talked to everybody about it," Butler said. "Everybody got an earful, from my brothers to my family to my trainer to my agent. I mean everybody. But I was confident enough to know the work I put in last summer, where my place would be in this league and on this team."

Butler plans to do much of his off-season work in San Diego. Meanwhile, Forman said the Bulls are still trying to improve the roster, but admitted there aren't likely to be any major changes.

The NBA set the new salary cap at $70 million for 2015-16, while the luxury tax threshold is $84.47 million. The Bulls have 14 players under contract if they keep E'Twaun Moore and Cameron Bairstow, who have non-guaranteed deals. They're looking at a payroll of around $88 million, which means they'll likely pay the luxury tax this season.

Butler agreed to the new deal on July 1. Thursday was the first day NBA free agents could actually sign contracts, so this transaction wasn't breaking news. But it was a chance for Butler to answer questions for the first time since the season ended with a second-round playoff loss to Cleveland.

Here's Butler on his relationship with Derrick Rose:

"I think we play well on the court together. The more time we're out there, we'll definitely get better at it. Off the floor, he has a son, so he has a family he has to take care of. I'm with my brothers a lot of the time. … I think when you're off the court then you go your separate ways a little bit.

"I think we can play off of each other well, especially with the offense we're going to be running now. We both get out in transition, we can both score. We can both get the ball to the open guy. I think that's what team players do. He's pretty good at that and I think I'm pretty good too. I like our chances of being the (NBA's) best backcourt."

On new Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg:

"I've talked to him plenty. I think later on, probably August, he'll start sending me film of the offense, probably practices that they're doing now (with the summer league squad), so I can know where I get the ball on the floor. I think that's very important so my trainer and I can prepare.

"(Hoiberg) is a really knowledgeable guy. He really knows basketball. It just makes it easier and more comfortable for me to be around because he's confident in what he can do as much as he's confident in what I can do."

On the Bulls bringing back every key player from last season's team:

"I like the group we had last year. I like our chances like I liked them last year. We just have to go out and get it. We've got to go out and prove that we're the best team in the league."

On what emoji he'd use to describe his feelings:

"I don't have emojis. I don't use emojis. I seriously don't pay attention to (the Clippers' use of emojis). I guess a happy face."

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