The Miami Heat could be in the running for the service of incoming shooting guard Jimmy Butler, and veteran swingman Luol Deng seems to be their trump card to attract the budding Chicago Bulls star.
Butler, who is currently having a phenomenal season as he's averaging career-high 21.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while doing superb job on the defensive end, has always remembered Deng for his role during his first three years with the Bulls.
"It's crazy how everything works," Butler said in an interview with KC Johnson of Chicago Tribune. "Lu is the main one who always told me to be ready and keep working on my game and be confident.
He told me I belonged here. Stuff like that goes a long way and that's stuff that everybody doesn't see and hear. Lu is a key part to me keeping my head into the game. He taught me a lot of the stuff I'm doing now. He always had confidence in me. I miss that guy."
After spending his first 10 seasons with the Bulls, Deng was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers midway into the 2013-14 NBA season before signing a two-year deal with the Miami Heat.
The 29-year old Deng is averaging 14 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season as the third wheel behind Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Although his contract has an opt-out option after this season, Deng could be used by the Heat as their primary recruitment agent to attract Butler next summer. Of course, the Bulls have the bird right to match any offer sheet presented to Butler, though they are going to have a hard time pulling it off especially if the swingman continues to raise his stock in the market.
Butler, who is already considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the league, could command a contract worth $15M per season, according to NBA experts.
