Jimmy Butler: I’m not the reason Derrick Rose was traded

Jimmy Butler insists he had nothing to do with the Chicago Bulls’ decision to trade Derrick Rose, despite numerous reports over the past year indicating Butler and Rose did not get along.

After a recent Team USA practice, Butler was asked about the perception that he ran Rose out of town.

“That has nothing to do with me. I don’t move guys,” he said, according to ESPN.com. “It’s like I always say: People are going to think what they want to think. That doesn’t bother me. I know where I stand. I know who I am.”

Most of the trade rumors heading into the offseason centered on Butler, but it appears the Bulls have decided to build around him instead. Rose was traded to the New York Knicks and veterans Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol signed with the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Butler insists he is on good terms with all of them.

“I’m happy for [Rose]. He’s happy for me,” he said. “I’m glad we get to go against each other whatever day that may be when the season rolls around.

“I talked to Jo. We texted a few messages. Nothing too serious, but we’re always going to have love for each other because we’re always going to be teammates. We were in those trenches together.”

On more than one occasion, reports claimed Rose and Butler were not getting along on or off the court. We already know how Rose felt about those rumors.

Typically, there’s smoke where there’s fire. It’s possible that Butler’s style of play simply didn’t mesh with Rose’s, but that doesn’t mean the two players dislike one another.