Jimmy Butler has been impressive in the first month of the 2014 NBA season, and the Chicago Bulls reiterated that they want to keep the 25-year-old, but sources said that they should offer a maximum deal to keep the fourth-year guard.

Butler, the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, leads the Bulls in scoring with 22.0 points per game. He is also averaging 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists to go along with 1.4 steals per game this season.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is one of the most vocal supporters of Butler, saying that he is not surprised with Butler's performance this season.

"He's prepared himself well," Thibodeau said of Butler via Sporting News. "He continues to work at it. He's playing with great intensity. He's studying. He's preparing. He practices hard. So I'm not surprised. When you practice well you play well, it's really that simple."

But as Butler's number continues to improve, his value is expected to increase as well, which could put Chicago in a difficult situation when the former Marquette standout hits free agency in the offseason.

The Bulls failed to convince Butler to sign a contract extension in October. Sources said that the Bulls offered a four-year contract at $11 million per year, but Butler was reportedly asking for $14 million per year.

The decision to turn down Butler's asking price could backfire as one rival general manager said that other interested teams could offer a maximum deal, which the Bulls need to match in order to keep him.

"If you think you have a legitimate shot at him, you would have to come out with a max offer," the general manager was quoted as saying. "That's the only way you'd have a chance of prying him out of Chicago, and there are a few teams that would be willing to try."

But if Butler stands firm in his statement, where he said that money won't be an issue when he sits down with the Bulls in the offseason, Chicago will have a good chance to keep the budding superstar.

"I love the city of Chicago. I think everybody knows that," Butler told USA Today last month. "just feel like I've just got to help win games, man. I want a championship. The money has never been an issue because I'm from Tomball. The money I make now is more than nothing."

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