It hasn’t been a bad tryout by any means.
Then again, “Jimmy Point Guard’’ has been waiting in the wings for quite some time.
It was just before the All-Star Game last season in which Butler announced that all 6-foot-7, 220 pounds of him was entering the All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge. A contest that until that time had been reserved for point guards.
“Who said I can’t be a point guard?’’ Butler joked back then.
He even tried on the nickname “Jimmy Point Guard,’’ and liked the way it fit.
But what started off as seemingly just more Butler bravado has turned into a way of life for the Bulls since last week. Maybe, just maybe, it’s also planted a seed in the organization moving forward.
When starting point guard Derrick Rose couldn’t answer the bell for the second half of the game in Houston last Thursday night, first-year coach Fred Hoiberg was a bit stuck. Back-up point guard E’Twaun Moore was on a minutes restriction, while Aaron Brooks was a bad matchup.
Hoiberg turned to Butler to play ball-handler and facilitator, as the Bulls overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Rockets, 103-100.
All Butler did was finish with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
“It’s really simple,’’ Butler would say afterwards of playing NBA point guard. “Dribble, shoot when you’re open, pass it when you’re not. … I really just got the easy job.’’
Rose has missed the last two games with the elbow injury, which meant two more auditions for Butler playing point.
In the loss to Detroit on Saturday, he was a fantasy owner’s dream, scoring 28 points, grabbing 17 rebounds and handing out 12 assists.
The last time Rose had a 12-assist game? Go back to Mar. 10, 2012 against Utah – or basically three knee surgeries ago.
Then on Sunday in the win in Milwaukee, Butler again showed off the point guard skills, scoring 25 points, grabbing five rebounds and handing out eight more assists. That’s 26 assists in a three-game span, and two of them resulting in wins.
“We’re obviously very comfortable with Jimmy with the ball in his hands,’’ Hoiberg said. “He’s finished off a lot of games for us.
“I think we all remember what he said when coming into the season that he’s a point guard. Yeah, he’s done a good job. Whether he brings the ball down or whether we get him coming off a zipper cut to the top of the key, run a little handoff to him to get the ball in his hands where he can go out and make plays. He’s such a versatile player.’’
Here’s where things get interesting.
Rose is a free agent after next season. The Bulls were going to draft a point guard last June, but plans changed when Bobby Portis fell to them. Point guard, however, is definitely a priority for them with this year’s draft.
If they do go that route, why not move Rose to more two-guard at times in games next year, free him up to concentrate on his strength – scoring first and foremost, and let Butler play the point while the new rookie learns the position in a back-up capacity?
That way in case the Rose camp and the Bulls can’t get on the same page for a new contract there’s a point guard already mentored, and Butler as a legitimate option.
No hard feelings, no battle of egos.
What has been showcased the last week is Butler can definitely handle the role.
Just ask him.
