Fred Hoiberg: In 'constant communication' with Jimmy Butler
CHICAGO -- Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg believes his relationship withJimmy Butler is solid and believes they can coexist after a rocky first season which included trade rumors surrounding the All-Star swingman last week during the NBA draft.
"Jimmy and I have pretty much been in constant communication since the season's been over," Hoiberg said Monday, during a news conference to introduce first-round pick Denzel Valentine.
Hoiberg acknowledged that he flew out to meet with Butler and several other players in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago.
"Being able to sit with him face-to-face, I talked to him on the phone two days ago, he's in a great frame of mind right now. His focus right now as well as being on this team is what he's going to do in representing Team USA," Hoiberg said. "I believe coming up here meeting with the media in New York in the next few days and then starting training camp out in Las Vegas. The other thing he talked about was coming out and spending a couple days with our young guys out there (in Vegas Summer League). And I think that's huge for Jimmy to be out there with the five players, andDoug [McDermott]isgoing to practice with our guys here as well. It's important. It's important to be around our young guys. Jimmy, he's in a very good frame of mind right now."
Butler, who rubbed some teammates and executives the wrong way last season as he tried to take a more vocal approach in the locker room, was the subject of many trade rumors last week. The Bulls' front office did not feel it was getting sufficient value in any potential deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Boston Celtics as they tried to move up in the draft. Butler publicly called out Hoiberg in December last season saying the rookie coach had to coach his team "harder." When asked if he could coach Butler in the future, Hoiberg responded quickly.
"Absolutely I can," Hoiberg said.
Bulls GM Gar Forman has repeatedly praised Butler in recent days, but has not committed to him as the face of the franchise moving forward as the Bulls continue to rebuild their roster. The Bulls missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons last year and Forman decided to deal former MVP Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks in exchange for three players last week.
The 26-year-old Butler made the All-Star team for the second straight season last year and is considered one of the best two-way players in the game. He has been selected for Team USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
