Hoiberg-Butler Relationship Fully Takes Center Stage With Rose's Exit

By Cody Westerlund--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The question was as blunt as can be to Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, its directness speaking to the importance that it carries for the organization this season.

Can you coach Jimmy Butler?

"Yes, I can," Hoiberg responded with a slight chuckle. "I'll answer that one first. Absolutely I can."

As he enters his second year as Bulls coach after a disastrous first one ended with the organization missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, Hoiberg took a bevy of questions Monday on his relationship with Butler, the two-time All-Star wing and team's best player. While it was first-round pick Denzel Valentine's introductory press conference at the Advocate Center, the Hoiberg-Butler conversation is at the forefront because last week's shocking trade of Derrick Rose to the Knicks made it clear that this is Butler's team. And of course, it was Butler who last December called Hoiberg out publicly and then reportedly chafed at running some parts of Hoiberg's preferred offensive system.

Through all the recent trade rumors surrounding Butler, Hoiberg has been in consistent contact with him. A couple weeks ago, Hoiberg visited Butler in Los Angeles, where he and several Bulls teammates are training this summer.

Hoiberg downplayed the notion that Butler's feelings need soothed after the trade speculation. Moving forward, Butler will play for Team USA in the Rio Olympics, and before its training camp gets going in Las Vegas, he plans to be there for some Summer League action.

"Jimmy and I have pretty much been in constant communication since the season's been over," Hoiberg said. "Being able to sit with him face-to-face (two weeks ago), I talked to him on the phone two days ago, he's in a great frame of mind right now. His focus right now as well as being on this team is what he's going to do in representing Team USA.

"The other thing he talked about was coming out and spending a couple days with our young guys out there (in Vegas Summer League). And I think that's huge for Jimmy to be out there with the five players, and Doug (McDermott) is going to practice with our guys here as well. It's important. It's important to be around our young guys. Jimmy, he's in a very good frame of mind right now."

The trade of Rose should make Hoiberg's coaching life a bit easier. Last year, he had to balance the wants, needs and preferred style of Rose and Butler, who never meshed well together on the floor because they're both ball-dominant players and poor at outside shooting. Rose didn't fully embrace Hoiberg's push-the-pace system either, as on several occasions Hoiberg would stress the need to push harder while Rose would indicate he was doing just that as well as ever.

Now, Hoiberg's focus is simple: Get on the same page as Butler, and slot the other, mostly younger pieces around him. Here in his second year, we'll glean much more insight on Hoiberg's coaching acumen.

"I know he's excited now about the upcoming year and obviously the Olympic team that he's about to start training for," Hoiberg said. "So you go back and look at all the things that we're going to do and hopefully get off to a great start.

"We talked about a lot of things. I won't get into the exact specifics. The biggest thing with our group is we need to play more consistent basketball next year. You go 7-1 against Toronto and Cleveland and 17-13 against the West and find ourselves out of the playoffs. That can't happen. We have to play much more consistent basketball. That's what I talked about to Jimmy and all of our players."

Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. He's also the co-host of the @LockedOnBulls podcast, which you can subscribe to on iTunes and Stitcher. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.