Is Jimmy Butler prepping himself for the coming salary cap increase in the coming years?

That highly probably occurrence could be a reason why Butler is looking to sign a short term deal rather than a max contract once free-agency starts this July.

Butler blossomed in the recently concluded season for the Bulls and is another high profile player expected to be plagued with offers once free agency comes up. The Bulls will of course want to retain Butler but all that may depend on what the Bulls can offer Butler and for how long.

The original plan seemed to point at a possible max-contract offer of 5 years and while many believed that other teams would do the same, rumors suddenly come out that Butler is more interested in signing a short-term package.

Aside from the Bulls, Butler is reportedly intrigued with the deal the Los Angeles Lakers have to offer. Butler is currently in Los Angeles as he is included in a stretch that's included an overseas "Entourage" promotional jaunt with producer Mark Wahlberg and his presence there alone has sparked rumors already.

For the Bulls, Butler's new demand could be a problem. It remains to be seen if the Bulls would be amenable to such a short term deal since the understood original intent was to keep Butler in Chicago for a longer span of time.

If Butler does indeed to remain in Chicago, the problem now seems to be the length of stay he would be having. If it would be short-term and eventually translate to more money, it remains to be seen if the Bulls would bite.

Of course there could be alternatives to that such as separate and future contract scenarios but what if a team like the Lakers could offer him something better, not now but in the years to come?

Whatever those plans may be, the reality of it all is Butler wants a short term deal. Will the Chicago Bulls give in or will the Lakers succeed in convincing him to don the purple and gold?