Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose weren't a perfect fit together. The Chicago Bulls had to make a choice.

Butler was the obvious pick to stay, and Rose was eventually traded to the New York Knicks.

There has been some speculation that Butler played a role in the decision to trade Rose and to let Joakim Noah walk. He maintains that was not the case.

From ESPN.com:

“That has nothing to do with me. I don't move guys,” Butler said before Thursday's Team USA practice at the United Center in Chicago. “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.”

Despite their conflicts in the past, Butler wishes the best for his former teammates:

“I'm happy for [Rose]. He's happy for me,” Butler 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.”

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Butler probably didn't have to say anything for the Bulls to know what needed to be done. And it's not like Butler's name wasn't one that came up in trade chatter either.

There were reports that the Bulls at least entertained the thought of sending Butler away for a package that would include rookie Kris Dunn. Butler did his best to ignore those rumors.

Via the Chicago Sun Times:

“It’s not their job to report anything to me,” Butler said of general manager Gar Forman and VP of basketball operations John Paxson. “I’m a big boy. I don’t need you to tell me, ‘No, you’re not going to be traded.’ I know it’s a business and if it happens it happens, but I’m here.

“I don’t pay attention to it. I was in the gym working out during the draft. My phone was blowing up, but what can I do? I can go in the office and be like, ‘Hey please don’t trade me?’ If they were going to do that, that’s on them not me.”

Butler knows where the Bulls stand now, which is a franchise that's very committed to him. Butler has only gotten better in recent years, becoming a two-time All-Star and this summer a member of Team USA. It's got to feel good for him knowing that the Bulls are now definitely his team.