Bulls' Butler: I didn't influence Rose, Noah exits
Jimmy Butler brushes aside the notion that he had a hand in the exit of multiple longtime Chicago Bulls players during the offseason.
“That has nothing to do with me. I don’t move guys,” Butler said before Thursday’s Team USA practice at the United Center. “It’s like I always say: People are going to think what they want to think.”
“That doesn’t bother me,” he added. “I know where I stand. I know who I am.”
Butler lost several teammates as the Bulls reshuffled their roster after a 42-40 season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08. Derrick Rose is gone, traded to the New York Knicks. Joakim Noah followed Rose and signed with the Knicks as a free agent. All-Star center Pau Gasol landed in San Antonio.
A two-time All-Star, Butler said he has spoken to Rose and exchanged text messages with Noah but added that he is looking to move forward.
“I’m happy for [Rose]. He’s happy for me,” Butler said. “I’m glad we get to go against each other whatever day that may be when the season rolls around.
“I talked to Jo. We texted a few messages. Nothing too serious, but we’re always going to have love for each other because we’re always going to be teammates. We were in those trenches together.”
Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo decided to join Butler in Chicago, providing championship experience but also two players on the wrong side of 30 who like to have the ball in their hands.
“I’m excited. I know they are as well,” Butler said of the Bulls’ additions. “It’s a new start for a lot of us.”
Butler’s inclusion on Team USA establishes the 6-foot-7 Marquette product as one of the best players in the world, part of a steady rise for the No. 30 selection in the 2011 draft. On the 12-player roster for Team USA, only Draymond Green and DeAndre Jordan are lower draft picks.
Butler had four points and three rebounds while playing 14½ minutes in the United States’ 107-57 exhibition victory over China on Tuesday night.
Next up is a matchup with Venezuela on Friday night at Butler’s home with the Bulls and then a trip to Houston for a game against Nigeria before the team departs for Brazil. The Olympic men’s basketball tournament begins Aug. 6.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
