Thibodeau Doesn't Know How Long Bulls' Butler Will Be Out With Thumb Injury


Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler is out with a thumb injury, which could have an effect on his contract negotiations with the team. According to Hoops Habit, the thumb injury is listed as a sprain but is bad enough that he has to be sidelined.According to ESPN, the Bulls’ starting shooting guard injured his thumb in the October 19th preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets. He had an MRI a few days later that confirmed the sprain. More than 31 million injuries that require medical care occur each year in the U.S. The injury has forced Butler to the sidelines, and when he will be back on the court is unclear. According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, Bulls head coach “Thibodeau said Butler is out 2-4 weeks.” Thibodeau later clarified that “no one knows,” how many weeks Butler will be out. “Two to four, one to three, I don’t know what it is. He’s not comfortable going yet, so when he is, he will. We know he wants to be out there, and injuries are part of the game, so you just deal with it.” “I try to come back early, and that’s not always the best thing to do,” Butler said. “They’re just making sure when I do come back, I won’t have any restraints and I’ll be able to go 100 percent.” Unfortunately the the Bulls, this means that they’re without an important player for the beginning of the regular season, notably Wednesday night’s opener against the Knicks. Unfortunately for Butler, the injury might complicate the contract negotiations that are set to happen October 31st. According to Hoops Habit, last season Butler missed 15 games and was injured before the regular 2014 season started. ESPN’s Chris Broussard said via Twitter Wednesday that Butler and the bulls are “unlikely to agree to contract extension,” but Butler himself doesn’t seem worried. According to ESPN, he’s focused on recovering from his injury and getting back on the court, not on the contract negotiations. If Butler and the Bulls don’t come to an agreement by October 31st, he’ll become a restricted free agent in the 2015 season.

Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler is out with a thumb injury, which could have an effect on his contract negotiations with the team. According to Hoops Habit, the thumb injury is listed as a sprain but is bad enough that he has to be sidelined.According to ESPN, the Bulls’ starting shooting guard injured his thumb in the October 19th preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets. He had an MRI a few days later that confirmed the sprain. More than 31 million injuries that require medical care occur each year in the U.S.

The injury has forced Butler to the sidelines, and when he will be back on the court is unclear. According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, Bulls head coach “Thibodeau said Butler is out 2-4 weeks.”

Thibodeau later clarified that “no one knows,” how many weeks Butler will be out. “Two to four, one to three, I don’t know what it is. He’s not comfortable going yet, so when he is, he will. We know he wants to be out there, and injuries are part of the game, so you just deal with it.”

“I try to come back early, and that’s not always the best thing to do,” Butler said. “They’re just making sure when I do come back, I won’t have any restraints and I’ll be able to go 100 percent.”

Unfortunately the the Bulls, this means that they’re without an important player for the beginning of the regular season, notably Wednesday night’s opener against the Knicks.

Unfortunately for Butler, the injury might complicate the contract negotiations that are set to happen October 31st. According to Hoops Habit, last season Butler missed 15 games and was injured before the regular 2014 season started. ESPN’s Chris Broussard said via Twitter Wednesday that Butler and the bulls are “unlikely to agree to contract extension,” but Butler himself doesn’t seem worried.

According to ESPN, he’s focused on recovering from his injury and getting back on the court, not on the contract negotiations. If Butler and the Bulls don’t come to an agreement by October 31st, he’ll become a restricted free agent in the 2015 season.