Report: Jimmy Butler Tabbed To Be Bulls' On-Stage Representative At Draft Lottery

(CBS) Two-time All-Star wing Jimmy Butler has been tabbed to be the Bulls' on-stage representative at next Tuesday's NBA Drafty Lottery, the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson reported.

This move carries some significance. Amid some offseason trade speculation, sending Butler to serve as the face of the franchise in a public setting hints at the Bulls viewing him as the team's centerpiece moving forward. That's a departure from the tone of Bulls management at a season-ending news conference, where they only responded that all options were on the table when asked directly about whether they're committed to Butler being the franchise centerpiece.

After signing a max deal in July 2015, Butler has embraced being the face of the franchise. He took on a far greater vocal leadership role during this past season. That came with mixed results as the Bulls struggled in a 42-40 campaign, with those in the organization respecting his work ethic and tenacity but also some being rubbed the wrong way by his self-proclaimed leadership takeover that didn't come organically.

The draft lottery will be held in New York City, and each team sends one representative on stage and one into the back room, where the lottery drawing is held before being publicly revealed. The Bulls finished with the best record of any non-playoff team, so they carry a 0.5 percent chance to nab the No. 1 pick and a 1.8 percent chance at getting a top-three pick. Otherwise, they are set to slot in for the No. 14 pick.