Category: Jimmy Butler

2 way-too-early trades Heat must pull off in 2023-24 NBA season

September 13, 2023

Amidst the standstill between the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard to South Beach seems destined to happen. The latest development in the Dame-to-Heat trade saga is that there is no development. Both sides are apparently not engaging with each other and there is no momentum on a deal going down.

Nonetheless, Lillard remains adamant that he only wants to go to Miami. This, in turn, has dried up the trade market for the Blazers star. Still, coming off an unlikely, yet impressive, NBA Finals run, the Heat are in the position to make a big trade that could put them over the top and give them a better chance of winning their first title in over a decade.

With that said, here are two (including one obvious) way-too-early trades the Heat must pull off in the 2023-24 NBA season.

Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard

Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Caleb Martin, Nikola Jovic, Duncan Robinson, and whatever draft picks they can give

Let’s begin with the obvious one. Lillard to Miami makes a lot of sense and everybody knows it. Heck, even NBA 2K already has Dame to the Heat programmed into its system.

Lillard could be the piece that propels the Heat to the promised land — a place they’ve been trying to break through over the last four seasons since Jimmy Butler arrived. It became clear during the 2023 NBA Finals that Miami lacked a legitimate shot creator and playmaker who could alleviate some of the heavy offensive load off Butler.

That’s why Miami must go all in to acquire Lillard. According to Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, they are reportedly unwilling to include Caleb Martin in a package for the Blazers star. But they should do everything they can to land Dame.

Sure, the 6-foot-5 wing did have an impressive playoffs. The Heat wouldn’t get to the Finals if he didn’t perform the way he did, especially in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Boston Celtics, where he led the team with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

But this is for all the marbles. This is their championship window with Butler already heading into his mid-30s. Having a proven superstar like Lillard incredibly increases their chances of lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy than a role player like Martin.

Considering Tyler Herro (injured) and Nikola Jovic (not in the rotation) weren’t really key pieces in the Heat’s run to the Finals, they are essentially replacing Lillard with Martin and Duncan Robinson.

This Damian Lillard trade saga could potentially extend into the season. Miami must stay patient and stay the course until Portland budges and accepts whatever deal it has to offer.

Miami Heat Receive: Pascal Siakam

Toronto Raptors Receive: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson, protected first round picks in 2028 and 2030

If the Lillard deal fails to materialize in any shape or form, Miami should go for Plan B. That Plan B is acquiring Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. Siakam is no Damian Lillard. But the man is a proven All-Star and All-NBA caliber player.

With Siakam, the Heat will get also get to fill in a need at power forward. Miami didn’t have a true big man to pair with Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt. He also gives them a solid inside threat with his ability to score in the post. Siakam has also proven to be a solid playmaker at his position, as evidenced by his career-best assist average last season. In addition, the Heat reunite Cameroonian with his former Raptors teammate Kyle Lowry, whom he won a title with in 2019.

He just came off his best season for the Raptors with averages of 24.2 points (a career-high), 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. However, Toronto could look to usher in a new era, especially after parting ways with NBA champion coach Nick Nurse and the departure of Fred VanVleet in the offseason. It makes sense for them to move on from Siakam as well.

Siakam has remained adamant that he wants to stick in Toronto. But he doesn’t really have control whether Masai Ujiri still sees him as a part of the program moving forward. They might be better suited continuing to build around 2021 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes as they also incorporate rookie Gradey Dick into their young core.

Similar with the Lillard deal, they really only give up Duncan Robinson from their 2023 NBA Playoffs rotation in this trade to land Siakam.

The pieces Miami is giving up may seem much, but Pascal Siakam is a legitimate star worth trading for.

The post 2 way-too-early trades Heat must pull off in 2023-24 NBA season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

10 best draft picks in Bulls history, ranked

September 12, 2023

The Chicago Bulls are one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA — and that is in large part due to one particular man: Michael Jordan. Chicago is one of the biggest and brightest basketball markets in the league. But surprisingly enough, the Bulls haven’t really had much success in landing big-name free agents. Unexpectedly, though, Chicago has been much better at finding talent through the NBA Draft. From the GOAT himself, to the youngest MVP in league history, to a gem at the very end of the first round, to an unheralded lefty from Europe, the Bulls have found them all. With that said, let’s dig deep into the archives and check out the 10 best draft picks in Chicago Bulls franchise history.

10. Orlando Woolridge

The Bulls selected Orlando Woolridge with the sixth pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. Woolridge played sparingly in his rookie campaign, averaging just over 15 minutes in 75 appearances. He earned a larger role in his sophomore campaign, where he started in 37 of 58 games and averaged over 28 minutes a night. He finally earned a spot in the starting lineup in his third season as he worked his way to becoming a 20-point scorer in the league.

The 6-foot-9 Woolridge was also known for his dunking and competed in the 1984 and 1985 Slam Dunk Contests. He was the first player ever to perform a between-the-legs dunk in the competition.

With Michael Jordan sidelined for much of the 1985-86 season due to a foot injury, Woolridge carried the team in scoring with an average of 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Despite finishing with just a 30-52 record, the Bulls still made the playoffs. Overshadowed by Jordan’s epic series versus the Boston Celtics, Woolridge averaged 21.0 points in the three-gamer.

That wound up becoming Woolridge’s final year in Chicago as he bounced around the league for the rest of his career. He had the best individual campaign of his career in the 1990-91 season with the Denver Nuggets, where he averaged 25.1 points per game.

9. Kirk Hinrich

Ask any Bulls fan about Kirk Hinrich and they could go on for days telling you about how much they loved having him on the team. The Bulls drafted Hinrich at No. 7 in the loaded 2003 NBA Draft. The Kansas Jayhawks standout wasn’t expected to be taken that high, but the Bulls had a need at point guard after Jay Williams had a career-ending motorcycle accident.

Hinrich showed exactly why the Bulls made the right decision in drafting him. He immediately earned the starting point guard spot in his rookie season with his sound fundamentals, terrific basketball IQ, and tenacity on the defensive end. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists as he made the 2003 All-Rookie First Team alongside a Hall of Fame set of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh. Imagine being in the same breath as that group. Only Kirk Hinrich had that honor in his rookie campaign.

Hinrich averaged a career-best 16.6 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals during the 2006-07 season. That was also the same year he made the All-Defensive Second Team. In 2008, he was relegated to a bench role after the Bulls drafted Derrick Rose with the first overall pick. After playing two years as Rose’s backup in 2008-09 and 2009-10, Hinrich had stints in Atlanta and Washington, before eventually returning to Chicago in 2012 to play two-and-a-half more seasons with the franchise.

Despite never making an All-Star team, Captain Kirk is still one of the most beloved Bulls players in franchise history.

8. Horace Grant

Chicago picked Horace Grant out of Clemson with the No. 10 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 power forward came off the bench for most of his rookie year, but it didn’t take long for him to earn a spot in the first unit. Grant assumed the starting power forward role in just his second season, where he averaged 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds on 51.9 percent shooting from the field.

Grant gave the Bulls an enforcer in the front court that helped them deal with the physicality of the Detroit Pistons, who knocked them off the postseason from 1989 to 1990. With Grant emerging as a steady force up front, Chicago finally got past the Pistons in the 1991 NBA Playoffs and swept their past tormentors in the Eastern Conference Finals. He helped the Bulls win their first NBA championship that same season and eventually to two more in 1992 and 1993.

In the summer of 1993, however, Michael Jordan shockingly announced his retirement from the league. With Jordan gone, Grant was relied upon to step up offensively. He averaged a career-best 15.1 points, to go along with 11.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the 1993-94 season as he earned the lone All-Star nod of his career.

Grant left Chicago as a free agent in 1994 and signed with an Eastern Conference rival in the Orlando Magic. With the Magic, he helped Orlando take down his old team during the second round of the 1995 playoffs. Though Grant joined the enemy, he is still one of the most beloved Bulls in franchise history for playing a key role in winning them their first three-peat.

7. Reggie Theus

The Bulls selected Reggie Theus with the 9th overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Theus had a strong rookie season with averages of 16.3 points and 5.2 assists as he finished as runner-up for the 1979 Rookie of the Year award. The rookie was also the second leading scorer of the team that season, just behind Hall of Fame big man Artis Gilmore.

Theus earned his first All-Star nod in the 1980-81 season. That year, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists to help lead the Bulls make the postseason and win a playoff series before falling in the second round.

Theus made his second All-Star team in 1982-83, where he turned in a career-best average of 23.8 points. Surprisingly, following his career scoring year, new Bulls coach Kevin Loughery decided to move Theus to the bench. His productivity dropped tremendously as a result and this prompted Chicago to move on from the former UNLV standout. Theus was traded during the 1983-84 season and he finished his Bulls career with averages of 18.8 points and 5.6 assists in 441 games. His departure opened up a spot at shooting guard, which Chicago filled in the 1984 NBA Draft. Any idea on who that guy might be?

6. Joakim Noah

The Bulls selected Joakim Noah with the 9th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. The 2-time NCAA Champion is one of the most beloved figures in Bulls history. Noah endeared himself to Chicago fans with his infectious energy, hustle, and unorthodox playing style.

The 6-foot-11 big man slowly worked his way up in the Bulls rotation and turned himself into a nightly 10-point, 10-rebound threat until he became a full-time starter in the 2010-11 season, the same year he made his first All-Defensive team. The former Florida Gator also earned his first All-Star nod in the 2012-13 season, where he averaged 11.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks.

Noah turned it up a notch the following season and had the best year of his career. He averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists as he made his second All-Star team. He also earned a spot in the All-NBA First Team and won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013-14.

Noah’s production dropped over the next two seasons as he struggled with injuries and as a result, he lost his spot in the starting lineup. His legendary Bulls tenure ended in 2016, when he signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent.

5. Toni Kukoc

The Bulls selected Toni Kukoc in the second round of the 1990 NBA Draft, but it wasn’t until three years later when he officially put on a Bulls uniform. Kukoc continued to play in Europe as he watched Michael Jordan and the Bulls win their first three-peat. Unfortunately, when he finally reported to duty in Chicago, Michael Jordan shockingly retired from the NBA.

Nonetheless, Kukoc made an immediate impact upon his arrival in Chicago. He averaged 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists en route to making the All-Rookie Second Team. His numbers rose to 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists as he made 55 starts in 81 games during his sophomore year in the NBA. Jordan returned midway through that same season, but Chicago failed to win the NBA championship.

In Jordan’s first full season back, the Bulls went on an absolute revenge tour and won a then-record 72 wins. Kukoc, in particular, bought into his role as the team’s sixth man. He came off the bench in 61 games and his strong play earned him the 1995-96 Sixth Man of the Year award.

Of course, the Croatian became a key piece in helping the Bulls win their second three-peat in the 1990s. Kukoc wound up playing one and a half more seasons in Chicago following their final NBA title in 1998.

4. Artis Gilmore

Artis Gilmore was already an established professional basketball player prior to coming to the NBA. The 7-foot-2 center was a star in the ABA and won the league’s MVP in 1975. When the ABA folded in 1976, Gilmore entered the special ABA dispersal draft. The Bulls were fortunate enough to have the first overall pick and used it to select Gilmore.

The Chipley, Florida native became an instant star for the Bulls, as he led the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks in his first season in Chicago. His presence inside the paint helped the Bulls hold their opponents to a league-best 98.0 points per game.

Gilmore wound up making four All-Star appearances (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982) during his time in Chicago. Though he enjoyed plenty of individual success, Gilmore only made two playoff appearances with the Bulls. He led the Bulls to playoffs in his very first year (1977) and again in 1981, where they won a playoff series and defeated the New York Knicks in the first round.

Gilmore still holds the franchise record in blocks per game, total blocked shots, and field goal percentage.

3. Jimmy Butler

The Bulls struck gold when they selected Jimmy Butler with the very last first round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. As he has done his entire life, Butler had to prove himself once again when he arrived in the NBA.

Butler played sparingly in his rookie campaign, but he eventually worked his way to becoming a starter by his third season with the Bulls. He started in all of his 67 appearances in the 2013-14 season and made the All-Defensive Second Team.

The 6-foot-7 guard had his breakout year in the 2014-15 season, where his averages of 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals earned him the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year award. He also made the first of three straight All-Star appearances with the Bulls. With Derrick Rose on the decline due to his lingering knee injuries, Butler eventually emerged as the team’s franchise player.

Butler had what is still the best scoring season of his career in 2016-17, where he averaged 23.9 points per game. This also earned him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. However, that season was marred with controversy with Butler and fellow veteran Dwyane Wade calling out the young guys of the team after a brutal loss in late January.  That season also wound up being Butler’s final with the Bulls.

2. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose gets the No. 2 spot simply because he spearheaded the Bulls into their most successful run after the Michael Jordan era. Rose also had one of the fastest ascensions to superstardom in the modern NBA.

Chicago selected Rose with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and made an immediate impact in his rookie season. He won Rookie of the Year and by year two, he was already an All-Star. Prior to his third NBA season, Rose infamously said he could become the MVP of the league. That’s exactly what he did in the 2010-11 season as he led the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Though they lost in the 2011 ECF to the Miami Heat, it became clear that Rose is destined for greatness in the NBA.

But unfortunately, the basketball gods had other plans. Rose suffered a career-altering torn ACL in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs and he was never the same player since. He came in 2013, but knee issues and injuries continued to persist. The Bulls finally pulled the trigger on their prodigal son when they traded him to the New York Knicks in the 2016 offseason. Rose was heartbroken when he received the news that he was no longer a Bull. Nonetheless, Bulls fans still love him for everything he brought to the Windy City.

While Rose will forever remain one of the biggest “what ifs” in league history, he is still worth celebrating for what he was able to do in Chicago. To this day, D-Rose is still one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.

1. Michael Jordan

I mean, who else did you expect? The Chicago Bulls changed their fortunes forever — and even the entire landscape and history of the NBA for that matter — when they selected Michael Jordan with the 3rd overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Chicago must thank the Portland Trail Blazers — and to a lesser extent, the Houston Rockets — for not picking the 6-foot-6 guard from North Carolina. Or else, they probably would never have become relevant as a franchise.

As all hoops junkies know, Michael Jordan essentially had the 1990s on a stranglehold, as he led the Bulls to six NBA championships. But it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies, especially during the first few years of MJ’s career in Chicago. Jordan and the Bulls still had to go through several obstacles such as Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics and Isiah Thomas’ Detroit Pistons before they finally reached the mountaintop in 1991.

Jordan led the Bulls to their first three-peat, before he shocked the world and infamously retired during the 1993 offseason. MJ’s love for basketball didn’t keep him out of the game for long as he returned to the Bulls two years later.

After falling in the 1995 NBA Playoffs to the Orlando Magic, Jordan took things personally and led Chicago to a then-NBA regular season record 72 wins in the 1995-96 campaign. The Bulls punctuated the best season ever with a title by beating the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA Finals to cap off Jordan’s revenge story. They later completed their second three-peat of the decade by defeating the Utah Jazz in back-to-back seasons.

Jordan had plenty of epic moments throughout his GOAT career — from the acrobatic shot in the 1991 Finals, to the Flu Game, to that iconic game-winning shot in Utah that sealed their second three-peat.

The post 10 best draft picks in Bulls history, ranked appeared first on ClutchPoints.

10 best draft picks in Bulls history, ranked

September 12, 2023

The Chicago Bulls are one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA — and that is in large part due to one particular man: Michael Jordan. Chicago is one of the biggest and brightest basketball markets in the league. But surprisingly enough, the Bulls haven’t really had much success in landing big-name free agents. Unexpectedly, though, Chicago has been much better at finding talent through the NBA Draft. From the GOAT himself, to the youngest MVP in league history, to a gem at the very end of the first round, to an unheralded lefty from Europe, the Bulls have found them all. With that said, let’s dig deep into the archives and check out the 10 best draft picks in Chicago Bulls franchise history.

10. Orlando Woolridge

The Bulls selected Orlando Woolridge with the sixth pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. Woolridge played sparingly in his rookie campaign, averaging just over 15 minutes in 75 appearances. He earned a larger role in his sophomore campaign, where he started in 37 of 58 games and averaged over 28 minutes a night. He finally earned a spot in the starting lineup in his third season as he worked his way to becoming a 20-point scorer in the league.

The 6-foot-9 Woolridge was also known for his dunking and competed in the 1984 and 1985 Slam Dunk Contests. He was the first player ever to perform a between-the-legs dunk in the competition.

With Michael Jordan sidelined for much of the 1985-86 season due to a foot injury, Woolridge carried the team in scoring with an average of 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Despite finishing with just a 30-52 record, the Bulls still made the playoffs. Overshadowed by Jordan’s epic series versus the Boston Celtics, Woolridge averaged 21.0 points in the three-gamer.

That wound up becoming Woolridge’s final year in Chicago as he bounced around the league for the rest of his career. He had the best individual campaign of his career in the 1990-91 season with the Denver Nuggets, where he averaged 25.1 points per game.

9. Kirk Hinrich

Ask any Bulls fan about Kirk Hinrich and they could go on for days telling you about how much they loved having him on the team. The Bulls drafted Hinrich at No. 7 in the loaded 2003 NBA Draft. The Kansas Jayhawks standout wasn’t expected to be taken that high, but the Bulls had a need at point guard after Jay Williams had a career-ending motorcycle accident.

Hinrich showed exactly why the Bulls made the right decision in drafting him. He immediately earned the starting point guard spot in his rookie season with his sound fundamentals, terrific basketball IQ, and tenacity on the defensive end. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists as he made the 2003 All-Rookie First Team alongside a Hall of Fame set of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh. Imagine being in the same breath as that group. Only Kirk Hinrich had that honor in his rookie campaign.

Hinrich averaged a career-best 16.6 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals during the 2006-07 season. That was also the same year he made the All-Defensive Second Team. In 2008, he was relegated to a bench role after the Bulls drafted Derrick Rose with the first overall pick. After playing two years as Rose’s backup in 2008-09 and 2009-10, Hinrich had stints in Atlanta and Washington, before eventually returning to Chicago in 2012 to play two-and-a-half more seasons with the franchise.

Despite never making an All-Star team, Captain Kirk is still one of the most beloved Bulls players in franchise history.

8. Horace Grant

Chicago picked Horace Grant out of Clemson with the No. 10 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 power forward came off the bench for most of his rookie year, but it didn’t take long for him to earn a spot in the first unit. Grant assumed the starting power forward role in just his second season, where he averaged 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds on 51.9 percent shooting from the field.

Grant gave the Bulls an enforcer in the front court that helped them deal with the physicality of the Detroit Pistons, who knocked them off the postseason from 1989 to 1990. With Grant emerging as a steady force up front, Chicago finally got past the Pistons in the 1991 NBA Playoffs and swept their past tormentors in the Eastern Conference Finals. He helped the Bulls win their first NBA championship that same season and eventually to two more in 1992 and 1993.

In the summer of 1993, however, Michael Jordan shockingly announced his retirement from the league. With Jordan gone, Grant was relied upon to step up offensively. He averaged a career-best 15.1 points, to go along with 11.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the 1993-94 season as he earned the lone All-Star nod of his career.

Grant left Chicago as a free agent in 1994 and signed with an Eastern Conference rival in the Orlando Magic. With the Magic, he helped Orlando take down his old team during the second round of the 1995 playoffs. Though Grant joined the enemy, he is still one of the most beloved Bulls in franchise history for playing a key role in winning them their first three-peat.

7. Reggie Theus

The Bulls selected Reggie Theus with the 9th overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Theus had a strong rookie season with averages of 16.3 points and 5.2 assists as he finished as runner-up for the 1979 Rookie of the Year award. The rookie was also the second leading scorer of the team that season, just behind Hall of Fame big man Artis Gilmore.

Theus earned his first All-Star nod in the 1980-81 season. That year, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists to help lead the Bulls make the postseason and win a playoff series before falling in the second round.

Theus made his second All-Star team in 1982-83, where he turned in a career-best average of 23.8 points. Surprisingly, following his career scoring year, new Bulls coach Kevin Loughery decided to move Theus to the bench. His productivity dropped tremendously as a result and this prompted Chicago to move on from the former UNLV standout. Theus was traded during the 1983-84 season and he finished his Bulls career with averages of 18.8 points and 5.6 assists in 441 games. His departure opened up a spot at shooting guard, which Chicago filled in the 1984 NBA Draft. Any idea on who that guy might be?

6. Joakim Noah

The Bulls selected Joakim Noah with the 9th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. The 2-time NCAA Champion is one of the most beloved figures in Bulls history. Noah endeared himself to Chicago fans with his infectious energy, hustle, and unorthodox playing style.

The 6-foot-11 big man slowly worked his way up in the Bulls rotation and turned himself into a nightly 10-point, 10-rebound threat until he became a full-time starter in the 2010-11 season, the same year he made his first All-Defensive team. The former Florida Gator also earned his first All-Star nod in the 2012-13 season, where he averaged 11.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks.

Noah turned it up a notch the following season and had the best year of his career. He averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists as he made his second All-Star team. He also earned a spot in the All-NBA First Team and won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013-14.

Noah’s production dropped over the next two seasons as he struggled with injuries and as a result, he lost his spot in the starting lineup. His legendary Bulls tenure ended in 2016, when he signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent.

5. Toni Kukoc

The Bulls selected Toni Kukoc in the second round of the 1990 NBA Draft, but it wasn’t until three years later when he officially put on a Bulls uniform. Kukoc continued to play in Europe as he watched Michael Jordan and the Bulls win their first three-peat. Unfortunately, when he finally reported to duty in Chicago, Michael Jordan shockingly retired from the NBA.

Nonetheless, Kukoc made an immediate impact upon his arrival in Chicago. He averaged 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists en route to making the All-Rookie Second Team. His numbers rose to 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists as he made 55 starts in 81 games during his sophomore year in the NBA. Jordan returned midway through that same season, but Chicago failed to win the NBA championship.

In Jordan’s first full season back, the Bulls went on an absolute revenge tour and won a then-record 72 wins. Kukoc, in particular, bought into his role as the team’s sixth man. He came off the bench in 61 games and his strong play earned him the 1995-96 Sixth Man of the Year award.

Of course, the Croatian became a key piece in helping the Bulls win their second three-peat in the 1990s. Kukoc wound up playing one and a half more seasons in Chicago following their final NBA title in 1998.

4. Artis Gilmore

Artis Gilmore was already an established professional basketball player prior to coming to the NBA. The 7-foot-2 center was a star in the ABA and won the league’s MVP in 1975. When the ABA folded in 1976, Gilmore entered the special ABA dispersal draft. The Bulls were fortunate enough to have the first overall pick and used it to select Gilmore.

The Chipley, Florida native became an instant star for the Bulls, as he led the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks in his first season in Chicago. His presence inside the paint helped the Bulls hold their opponents to a league-best 98.0 points per game.

Gilmore wound up making four All-Star appearances (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982) during his time in Chicago. Though he enjoyed plenty of individual success, Gilmore only made two playoff appearances with the Bulls. He led the Bulls to playoffs in his very first year (1977) and again in 1981, where they won a playoff series and defeated the New York Knicks in the first round.

Gilmore still holds the franchise record in blocks per game, total blocked shots, and field goal percentage.

3. Jimmy Butler

The Bulls struck gold when they selected Jimmy Butler with the very last first round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. As he has done his entire life, Butler had to prove himself once again when he arrived in the NBA.

Butler played sparingly in his rookie campaign, but he eventually worked his way to becoming a starter by his third season with the Bulls. He started in all of his 67 appearances in the 2013-14 season and made the All-Defensive Second Team.

The 6-foot-7 guard had his breakout year in the 2014-15 season, where his averages of 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals earned him the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year award. He also made the first of three straight All-Star appearances with the Bulls. With Derrick Rose on the decline due to his lingering knee injuries, Butler eventually emerged as the team’s franchise player.

Butler had what is still the best scoring season of his career in 2016-17, where he averaged 23.9 points per game. This also earned him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. However, that season was marred with controversy with Butler and fellow veteran Dwyane Wade calling out the young guys of the team after a brutal loss in late January.  That season also wound up being Butler’s final with the Bulls.

2. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose gets the No. 2 spot simply because he spearheaded the Bulls into their most successful run after the Michael Jordan era. Rose also had one of the fastest ascensions to superstardom in the modern NBA.

Chicago selected Rose with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and made an immediate impact in his rookie season. He won Rookie of the Year and by year two, he was already an All-Star. Prior to his third NBA season, Rose infamously said he could become the MVP of the league. That’s exactly what he did in the 2010-11 season as he led the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Though they lost in the 2011 ECF to the Miami Heat, it became clear that Rose is destined for greatness in the NBA.

But unfortunately, the basketball gods had other plans. Rose suffered a career-altering torn ACL in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs and he was never the same player since. He came in 2013, but knee issues and injuries continued to persist. The Bulls finally pulled the trigger on their prodigal son when they traded him to the New York Knicks in the 2016 offseason. Rose was heartbroken when he received the news that he was no longer a Bull. Nonetheless, Bulls fans still love him for everything he brought to the Windy City.

While Rose will forever remain one of the biggest “what ifs” in league history, he is still worth celebrating for what he was able to do in Chicago. To this day, D-Rose is still one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.

1. Michael Jordan

I mean, who else did you expect? The Chicago Bulls changed their fortunes forever — and even the entire landscape and history of the NBA for that matter — when they selected Michael Jordan with the 3rd overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Chicago must thank the Portland Trail Blazers — and to a lesser extent, the Houston Rockets — for not picking the 6-foot-6 guard from North Carolina. Or else, they probably would never have become relevant as a franchise.

As all hoops junkies know, Michael Jordan essentially had the 1990s on a stranglehold, as he led the Bulls to six NBA championships. But it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies, especially during the first few years of MJ’s career in Chicago. Jordan and the Bulls still had to go through several obstacles such as Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics and Isiah Thomas’ Detroit Pistons before they finally reached the mountaintop in 1991.

Jordan led the Bulls to their first three-peat, before he shocked the world and infamously retired during the 1993 offseason. MJ’s love for basketball didn’t keep him out of the game for long as he returned to the Bulls two years later.

After falling in the 1995 NBA Playoffs to the Orlando Magic, Jordan took things personally and led Chicago to a then-NBA regular season record 72 wins in the 1995-96 campaign. The Bulls punctuated the best season ever with a title by beating the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA Finals to cap off Jordan’s revenge story. They later completed their second three-peat of the decade by defeating the Utah Jazz in back-to-back seasons.

Jordan had plenty of epic moments throughout his GOAT career — from the acrobatic shot in the 1991 Finals, to the Flu Game, to that iconic game-winning shot in Utah that sealed their second three-peat.

The post 10 best draft picks in Bulls history, ranked appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates US Open victory with Jimmy Butler, J Balvin

September 5, 2023

Carlos Alcaraz is steamrolling through his competition at the US Open. The Spanish tennis sensation swept Matteo Arnaldi in three sets and still remains blood-hungry. One of the best parts was doing it all in front of Miami Heat legend Jimmy Butler and J Balvin at Flushing Meadows.

Matteo Arnaldi put up a decent fight against Alcaraz. He was holding his own despite having massive losses on his second serve. But, the Spaniard just proved too much for Arnaldi. Carlos Alcaraz was sending the ball deep and getting advantages in position quite a lot. This led to an insane sweep with 6-3, 6-3, and 6-4 score lines. It helped Carlos punch a ticket into the qualifiers at Flushing Meadows which is an incredible feat on its own.

After the match, Jimmy Butler and J Balvin came to see Alcaraz. Notably, both are big tennis fans and were just around the area when the match commenced. They could not resist but see how good Alcaraz was on the hard court.

 

Moreover, the Heat star has a long history of supporting the sport. He was cheering on Coco Gauff during Roland-Garros while Miami was battling Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets.

Butler might be around for most of the tournament as a lot of Americans like Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Ben Shelton are still alive in the competition. The amount of support that tennis has been getting in the past years has been overwhelming. Will Alcaraz pay back the support with a grand slam title at the US Open?

The post Carlos Alcaraz celebrates US Open victory with Jimmy Butler, J Balvin appeared first on ClutchPoints.

‘I don’t care’: Heat star Jimmy Butler drops blunt assessment of the FIBA World Cup

September 4, 2023

The FIBA World Cup has garnered the interest of plenty of basketball fans around the world, but Jimmy Butler is not one of them. The Heat star has been spotted watching on intently at the US Open at Flushing Meadows, but that interest in sports during his offseason doesn’t appear to extend to one of the biggest basketball tournaments in the world.

Butler was recently approached by a journalist, Sasa Ozmo, who was looking for a comment about the FIBA World Cup. He didn’t oblige. After saying that he wasn’t going to make any statements to the journalist, Butler went on to say “I don’t care about the World Cup,” and that was that as far as the interaction went.

Team USA is attempting to win its sixth Gold Medal at the tournament and is widely favored to do so, but of course, unlike at the Olympics, the team they’ve sent to do so is far from the best they’re capable of putting on the floor. That’s not to denigrate its quality; the USA squad is deeper than any other at the tournament and includes names such as Anthony Edwards, Austin Reaves, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Tyrese Haliburton, to name just a few.

Most of the biggest players from the USA, however, don’t play in the tournament – something which extends to other nations too, with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic also opting out of the event. Evidently, for Jimmy Butler at least, that lack of interest in playing extends to a more general lack of interest in the tournament in its entirety.

Team USA are eager to secure what would be their third FIBA World Cup win in four events, and appear well-placed to do so. One man who doesn’t appear likely to be watching on, however, is Jimmy Butler.

The post ‘I don’t care’: Heat star Jimmy Butler drops blunt assessment of the FIBA World Cup appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Stephen A. Smith’s explosive Jimmy Butler take will have Sixers fans reminiscing

September 1, 2023

The Joel Embiid-led Philadelphia 76ers should have broken through to the Eastern Conference Finals now, at least according to one NBA insider. ESPN expert Stephen A. Smith recently addressed Philadelphia’s playoff shortcomings in the Embiid era and how things could have been different if the Sixers had kept Jimmy Butler around.

“If [Butler] had never departed from Philly & he was a teammate of Embiid, the 76ers wouldn’t be on this drought where they can’t get to a conference finals,” said Smith on ESPN’s First Take. “They would’ve gotten at least to a conference finals by this point if they kept Jimmy instead of losing him to Miami.”

Stephen A. Smith of course is addressing the lone half-season Jimmy Butler spent in a Sixers uniform in 2019. That year, the team reached Game 7 of the second round before being dropped off by Kawhi Leonard courtesy of an all-time clutch jump shot.

Since then, the Sixers have returned to the second round multiple times, including reaching Game 7 again in 2021 and 2023, but have ultimately not broken through to the NBA’s Final Four. Meanwhile, Butler’s new team, the Miami Heat, have made it all the way to the NBA Finals two times since the multiple-time All-Star took his talents to South Beach.

It certainly isn’t hard to envision a team with Embiid and Butler making it to the conference finals at least once, especially considering how excruciatingly close they were four years ago.

Still, hindsight is 20/20, and the Sixers have enough problems on their hand (most of them James Harden-related) in the current day to be busy reflecting on their past.

The post Stephen A. Smith’s explosive Jimmy Butler take will have Sixers fans reminiscing appeared first on ClutchPoints.

US Open contender Coco Gauff vocal on Jimmy Butler’s impact on her mentality

August 31, 2023

US Open contender Coco Gauff’s mental fortitude has helped her become one of the best female tennis players in the world. It turned out Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has a lot to do with that.

Coco Gauff lives in South Florida. She has been following Butler and the Heat closely since they made two NBA Finals appearances in the past four years.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Gauff in recent months. She lost to her compatriot Sofia Kenin in the first round of Wimbledon early last month. Kenin prevailed in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Many tennis experts thought Gauff, who was a finalist in the 2022 French Open, would go the distance.

Enter Jimmy Butler.

The Heat star’s timely intervention has helped Gauff bounce back with a vengeance per the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy.

“That switch I had in the last couple weeks – people think some incredible thing happened. But realistically, the two weeks between Wimbledon and the next tournament I played, nothing could have really changed that much. It was really just the mental thing. I think that’s what I learned from watching Jimmy compete over the years,” Gauff said.

Butler’s advice helped Gauff beat Karolina Muchova in the 2023 Cincinnati Open final on August 21. Gauff is now through to the third round of the 2023 US Open final after beating Mirra Andreeva in just 76 minutes on Wednesday.

Jimmy Butler knows his stuff. It seems he’s no slouch in tennis after he hilariously earned a point against top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz one week ago.

For her part, will Coco Gauff become the first American female to win the US Open since Sloane Stephens in 2017? Stay tuned.

The post US Open contender Coco Gauff vocal on Jimmy Butler’s impact on her mentality appeared first on ClutchPoints.

US Open contender Coco Gauff vocal on Jimmy Butler’s impact on her mentality

August 31, 2023

US Open contender Coco Gauff’s mental fortitude has helped her become one of the best female tennis players in the world. It turned out Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has a lot to do with that.

Coco Gauff lives in South Florida. She has been following Butler and the Heat closely since they made two NBA Finals appearances in the past four years.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Gauff in recent months. She lost to her compatriot Sofia Kenin in the first round of Wimbledon early last month. Kenin prevailed in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Many tennis experts thought Gauff, who was a finalist in the 2022 French Open, would go the distance.

Enter Jimmy Butler.

The Heat star’s timely intervention has helped Gauff bounce back with a vengeance per the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy.

“That switch I had in the last couple weeks – people think some incredible thing happened. But realistically, the two weeks between Wimbledon and the next tournament I played, nothing could have really changed that much. It was really just the mental thing. I think that’s what I learned from watching Jimmy compete over the years,” Gauff said.

Butler’s advice helped Gauff beat Karolina Muchova in the 2023 Cincinnati Open final on August 21. Gauff is now through to the third round of the 2023 US Open final after beating Mirra Andreeva in just 76 minutes on Wednesday.

Jimmy Butler knows his stuff. It seems he’s no slouch in tennis after he hilariously earned a point against top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz one week ago.

For her part, will Coco Gauff become the first American female to win the US Open since Sloane Stephens in 2017? Stay tuned.

The post US Open contender Coco Gauff vocal on Jimmy Butler’s impact on her mentality appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Coco Gauff gets major endorsement from Heat star Jimmy Butler amid US Open run

August 30, 2023

Coco Gauff took down her first two opponents at the US Open, much to the enjoyment of her massive fanbase that now includes Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Butler has been all over the US Open through the practice rounds and first days of competition. He hilariously appeared with Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition, and entertained fans by pretending to be a ball boy. With the matches underway, he has thrown his support behind the Miami native Gauff as she seeks her first Grand Slam.

“She’s a champion, and I love that she’s from the city that I work in. I just love to be here to support her. So, I want her to win every single time,” Butler said, according to Yahoo Sports.

Butler is returning the favor after Gauff supported the Heat through two Miami Heat NBA Finals appearances in the last four years, led by Butler and his determination. Gauff struggled earlier this year, losing early at Wimbledon, but channeled Butler’s resolve to get back on the horse and prepare for a deep US Open run.

“But realistically, the two weeks between Wimbledon and the next tournament I played, nothing could have really changed that much. It was really just the mental thing. I think that’s what I learned from watching Jimmy compete over the years,” Gauff said about her perseverance.

Gauff is also playing on the doubles side of the tournament with fellow American Jessica Pegula, and they are ranked third in that draw with the combination of stars. And to top it all off, she will be playing mixed doubles with Jack Sock on Thursday morning, a major workload for the youngster still in search of her major championship.

The post Coco Gauff gets major endorsement from Heat star Jimmy Butler amid US Open run appeared first on ClutchPoints.

‘I’m not broke’: Heat’s Jimmy Butler savagely rejects fan’s 1-on-1 challenge

August 30, 2023

NBA fans are one of the most heavy spenders in all of professional sports. Spending on season tickets, gas, travel, and even collectibles is no joke. Some fans take it up a notch and buy personal experiences that they would only get once in a lifetime. A TikTok influencer even got his wish to get demolished by Andre Drummond in a one-on-one match. Jimmy Butler was not keen on following in the footsteps of other stars. Rather, the Miami Heat star was only ever going to fight a fan if they had the cash to show for it.

Unfortunately, a lot of fans are not going to have the opportunity of playing against Jimmy Butler. He even went as far as to say that the Heat fan did not have enough cash to be able to compete against him.

“1 on 1 is personal. How much money you got?” Butler said initially intrigued by the challenge. The fan would shut the doors on any bets and fees when they said, “I’m broke right now.”

Jimmy would then hilariously respond to the fan before he went back to shooting some hoops, “I’m not broke so I’m not playing. Nope! I’m only playing for money.”

 

There are a lot of reasons outside of cash that NBA players may not want to engage fans in a competitive setup. A concern could be injuries that may cost them a lot of cash. The plethora of reasons stack up from there. So, it is no surprise that Jimmy Butler had to shut the offer down.

The post ‘I’m not broke’: Heat’s Jimmy Butler savagely rejects fan’s 1-on-1 challenge appeared first on ClutchPoints.