CHICAGO -- Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler remains questionable for Wednesday night's regular-season opener against the New York Knicks because of sprained ligaments in his thumb. Butler did not practice on Tuesday, but he did continue taking jumpers with a taped-up thumb.

"I feel better," Butler said. "Go put some ice on it here now and see how it feels in the morning."

Butler initially injured the thumb in a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 19.

"My thumb has to be able to hold up," he said. "I think that's the most important thing. I think obviously everybody knows that I want to play, but I don't want to rush back too early."

As for the ongoing contract negotiations in regard to Butler's potential extension with the Bulls, the 25-year-old says he is trying not to focus on that. The deadline for Butler to sign an extension with the Bulls is Oct. 31, and if he does not sign he will become a restricted free agent this summer.

"To tell you the truth that's really the last thing on my mind," Butler said. "I really could care less right about now. I just want to be healthy. I want to play the game that I love to play. To this point, a contract, money, absolutely has nothing to do with anything on my mind."

Butler is trying to focus on the fact the Bulls come into Wednesday's opener as one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference.

"I think we're up there," Butler said. "You never know what can happen throughout the course of the season but right now if we're healthy, why can't we be the best team in this league?"