Wade only committed to Bulls if Butler stays

Dwyane Wade may be a Chicago native, but he only sounds committed to the Bulls if Jimmy Butler stays put in the Windy City.

"One of the main reasons I'm here is Jimmy," Wade said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "He's the one who called me and got me to come here. So that's a big part of my decision and everything else, is what Jimmy's doing, what his future looks like and all that. And I've made it very clear."

The response came to continued speculation that the Bulls could consider trading Butler, triggering a full-scale rebuild. Those are rumors that have swirled for over a year now, and sources told Friedell that there is still debate within the organization regarding such a move.

"At the end of the year, you sit back and see what the team is, what direction they're going in," Wade said. "I would be a liar to say that I want to play on a team with all 21-year-olds. You know what I mean? And be a part of the future building. I would be a fool to say that. But you also want to be in the best position for what you think is for you at that time, too."

Wade, who turned 35 on Tuesday, signed with the Bulls in July after talks broke down with the Miami Heat - ending his 13 year tenure in South Florida. He's on a two-year contract with an option for next season. Butler is signed through 2019 with a player option for 2019-20.