Pro #2: Butler’s Value Is Peaking
Butler is coming off of back-to-back All Star seasons, and is playing at the highest level of his career. He currently ranks 10th in the NBA in scoring (25.2 ppg), 4th in free throw attempts (9.5) and 14th in free throw percentage (88%). His player efficiency rating (PER) of 26.31 is 11th in the league, just 0.19 points shy of LeBron James. When it comes to individuals delivering wins for their team, he’s among the league’s elite. Butler’s 10.4 estimated wins added (EWA) is matched or bested by only Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. He’s 6th in real plus-minus (6.27). On the defensive end his 1.6 defensive win shares rank inside the top 20, and his 1.72 steals per game are 9th most in the league.
All those fancy numbers together make one clear point: Jimmy is a bona fide All Star who’s now bordering on superstar status. At age 27, he still has several years of prime seasons ahead of him. Butler’s market value and the expected return in a trade will never be higher than it is right now. Especially with some of his recent Herculean performances (52 points vs Charlotte, 40 points and a buzzer beater vs Brooklyn) Butler is becoming known as a clutch guy who can single-handedly take over games in the 4th quarter. That’s a rare quality in the league; one that many teams don’t have and want desperately.
Given the fact that Butler is now a hot commodity, the Bulls would likely have many suitors if they made it known he’s available for the right price. That leads us to the next “pro” on our list. [USE ARROWS ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING]
