Jimmy Butler emerged as a great player when things weren’t going so well for Derrick Rose.  Butler got a max contract and a spot on the All-Star team with many people saying the Bulls were now his team and Rose was no longer the franchise player.  Those reports soon turned into rumors about friction between the two players and Rose was eventually traded to the New York Knicks.  In an interview on ESPN, Butler reiterated his love for Rose but admitted that one of them had to go from the team.

“They called me,” Butler said of the Bulls’ front office during an appearance on The Jump on Wednesday afternoon. “I can’t say that I was surprised, but I knew that it had to be one of us, to tell you the truth. Obviously, I enjoyed playing with him. I came into the league when he was the MVP. I’ve got so much respect for the guy. I have no bad things to say about him and I wish him the best moving forward.”

Butler’s name popped up in trade discussions around draft time but the Bulls felt the offers didn’t give them enough value in return.  He admits that he loves Chicago and wants to stay but nothing is certain.

“I don’t think anything is for certain,” Butler said. “I really don’t. I love the city of Chicago, Chicago basketball, I think everybody knows that. They drafted me: I’ve been here my entire career. Nothing is for certain.”

Butler posted a goodbye message for Derrick Rose on Instagram when he got traded a week ago

*photo in gallery above*

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source: ESPN