The Jimmy Butler trade rumors swirling Tuesday are based on the assumption that any Bulls’ rebuild would be jump-started by dealing their three-time All-Star.
That seems logical.
What remains overlooked by far too many, however, is that Bulls logic works much differently than popular opinion, or in some cases, common sense.
The Bulls should be in rebuilding mode, particularly if you consider the current landscape in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James has a handful of years left, and a full rebuild starting now — if pulled off properly (a big if with this front office) — should be hitting its stride as James is waving goodbye to a historic career.
To understand why the Bulls are taking calls on Butler rather than making them, one must first understand Bulls logic.
According to a source, board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has been hands-off this season as the transfer of power to Michael Reinsdorf continues. The source said that Jerry Reinsdorf only is being used as an advisor on major decisions, and even then, he wants his son to have the final say.
That’s why Gar Forman isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Michael Reinsdorf is reportedly just fine with the direction on the court.
Off the court, the general manager’s wife, Leslie, is the vice president of Bulls Charities, while Michael Reinsdorf’s wife, Nancy, is the president of Bulls Charities. The wives are close, and as the Sun-Times reported last May, their relationship has rubbed some former players the wrong way.
The feeling was that Forman preached accountability, but his job security was as safe as any figure in the organization not named Reinsdorf or John Paxson.
Michael Reinsdorf’s emergence as the face atop the organization brings a different set of priorities.
Former and current Bulls personnel believe that Michael Reins-dorf is a business-first owner and he measures success by the team’s profitability and marketability.
Winning championships is a priority but takes a back seat to the financial bottom line. That’s why the decision-making has been so questionable the last three years.
First, coach Tom Thibodeau was fired. That might have been the last major decision that Jerry Reinsdorf was involved in.
Then the blame shifted to the roster. Derrick Rose was traded and Joakim Noah was allowed to walk via free agency.
The Sun-Times reported that multiple sources indicated that the anger expressed by several corporate sponsors went a long way in the Bulls staying away from a full rebuild in the offseason, leading to the Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade signings, despite neither being a fit for what coach Fred Hoiberg likes to do offensively.
Then again, the front office seldom seems to care about what their own coaches want or don’t want.
That has been evident in Hoiberg’s tenure, and was very obvious under Thibodeau when they first dismantled the “Bench Mob,’’ trading Luol Deng without consulting Thibodeau, and drafting offensive-minded players for a defensive-minded coach.
Logic be damned.
That’s why the trade deadline Thurday might come and go without a major move.
This is about staying playoff relevant, hoping more big names can be persuaded to join in the offseason, thereby keeping butts in the seats and big money in the suites.
Bulls logic.
Follow me on Twitter @suntimes_hoops.
Email: jcowley@suntimes.com
