NBA Trade Rumors: Jimmy Butler Speaks Up About Latest Bulls Off-Season Issue

By Jenn Loro - 02 Apr '16 12:11PM

Following Bulls' 103-100 win over Rockets, Jimmy butler responded to swirling rumors of being possibly traded to other teams when the league goes off-season this July.

A cocktail of dismal season and uncertain future has led to a series of trade rumors involving the two-time All-Star with Orlando Magic showing a particular interest in Butler as mentioned in a report by Sports Illustrated.

What does Butler have to say about the rumored off-season trade?

"I don't plan on going anywhere. I can't control what everybody else does," said Butler as reported by Fox Sports. He added, "I know that this is the city that I love, Chicago. And I want to wear that jersey. I want to wear that name on the front, and I wear it proudly. All I got to do is continue to control what I can control. That's to try to help this team win games."

Some NBA insiders blame Butler's uneasy relationship with the team's head coach Fred Hoiberg may have fueled the rumored falling out between him and the Bulls. Butler was previously reported being critical of Hoiberg's coaching style saying that the team needs to be "coached a lot harder at times."

Nevertheless, Hoiberg dismissed the alleged rocky relationship between him and Butler.

"That's not the reality at all," Hoiberg said as quoted by ESPN. The head coach continued saying, "Again, we have a very good relationship. Obviously, I have a lot of trust in Jimmy, putting the ball in his hands late in games to help us go out and finish games. I communicate with Jimmy as much as anybody on this team. Again, I think very highly of him just for what he's done with his game over the course of his career. I've always been a fan of his."

Despite a number of controversies surrounding him, Butler appears to have a stellar performance as per statistics averaging 21 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. While his season is not at all bad, it would not be enough to bring Bulls to the playoffs as some analysts observe. The former Marquette standout missed some games this season due to a knee injury and may need to get a surgery in the off-season.