When Derrick Rose was traded last month, many Chicago Bulls fans expected that the franchise was ready for a full rebuild after an extended run in the playoffs but ultimately no championship opportunities. Sports Mockery took the position that this wasn’t the case. That instead the team planned a quick retool, building a new roster around All-Star guard Jimmy Butler with the focus being on making a big move in 2017 NBA free agency which should feature several top talents.

Seems other top sources are coming around to this reality too following the addition of Rajon Rondo on a two-year, $30 million deal. Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald laid out the plan the team likely has in mind.

“One thing that’s clear is the Bulls had little interest in getting caught up in this summer’s free-agent spending spree. Judging by how they’ve spent the past three days, it seems the Bulls would be fine with getting another lottery pick in next year’s draft. Then the Bulls would have a ton of money, potentially $60 million, to spend on a deeper class of free agents next summer. It seems as if the Bulls’ strategy is to let other teams punch themselves out, so to speak, spending a ton of money this year. The Bulls will collect assets and wait for 2017 to make a bigger splash. Instead of going all in to get a little better this summer, the Bulls are gambling that a two-year plan can make them a lot better. This blueprint could backfire, but they are thinking big — at least in the longer term.”

McGraw went on to say that the “pipe dream” of the Bulls signing top name next year in free agency is now very much a possibility.

Maybe #Bulls' plan is to go heavy after Westbrook next year. A Russ/Butler combo would be interesting. — Mike McGraw (@McGrawDHBulls) July 4, 2016

With Kevin Durant gone to Golden State, the prevailing belief is that All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook will also leave the Oklahoma City Thunder when his contract expires. If Chicago can get a decent lottery pick to go along with the presence of Butler, they might have enough to make a significant case for him joining the Bulls. The same goes for other top names set to be available next year like Blake Griffin.

Not to mention the ongoing weakened state of the Eastern Conference.

In a league defined by its superstar cores, there is no question the Chicago Bulls are aiming at remolding theirs around Jimmy Butler. For the first time in a long time they’ll have the money necessary to make a splash. Whether their front office has the capability to make a strong enough pitch remains to be seen.