The Chicago Bulls, despite being considered favorites earlier in the day, will not be signing free agent small forward Caron Butler. According to David Aldridge of TNT, Butler will be heading to the Los Angeles Clippers:
@daldridgetnt
David AldridgeSource: Caron Butler agrees to terms with Clippers. Three years, 24M.
1 hour ago via Mobile Web · powered by @socialditto
Both the Bulls and New Jersey Nets were capable of offering the 31-year-old Butler contracts beyond the nearly $6 million per year mid-level exception, but the Bulls -- given their present financial constraints surrounding reigning MVP Derrick Rose -- seemed unlikely to offer the highest bid.
Butler, who averaged 15.0 points per game last year, despite playing a career-low 29.9 minutes per game, will now earn about $8 million per year with the Clippers. With Butler now unavailable, the Bulls may have trouble filling out their bench as hoped because the Detroit Pistons have re-signed the Bulls' backup target, Tayshaun Prince.
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