As usual, I think Danny is going to look like the smart one this summer in Chicago, if you believe the Butler theory.
How disgruntled will Butler be this offseason after the Bulls lose 45-50 games, Gasol opts out, Noah is gone, and Rose is still on the roster for $21M? They'll have no center and a core that relies heavily on Mirotic, McDermott and Portis - all nice enough prospects but the players Butler wants to spend his prime building around? There's no way that team contends with Cleveland, Boston, Toronto unless they sign a max player... and even then they'll have a ton of holes to fill with no future at the PG & center positions.
All of a sudden Boston will be offering cap space and future picks... something less than what could have been on the table just a few days ago.
Well, the organization is also under a bit of a delusional fantasy that free agents will want to go to Chicago because "they've made the playoffs 7 years in a row".
Donoghus from your personal perspective, if it was for indeed Butler, what do you think the offer ended up being?
Oh man, I don't know. Prob some insane combo involving BKN picks, Bradley, Olynyk, and Crowder
Think if Ainge truly wanted Butler, keeping Crowder would've been a must, considering the close relationship between the two.
On a separate note, Ainge is pretty shrewd and sly, and he could certainly have this so called proposed deal set up, or he could literally be bluffing. Other than that the 3 stars he was reportedly pursuing, how else could it benefit him to admit to talking to Houston, Atlanta, and Cleveland?