Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers are desperately hoping to land one of the many top-tier players who will be available via either free agency or restricted free agency. Of those available players, the Lakers appear to have set their sights on the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler.
Butler, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason, has emerged as one of the top wing scorers in the NBA. He went home with the 2015 Most Improved after putting together a season that saw him develop into the Bulls’ go-to scorer outside of Derrick Rose (when he’s healthy).
As a result of his emergence, the Lakers have targeted him this offseason, and appear to be willing to throw a max offer at him to bring him to Los Angeles, according to Shams Charania of RealGM.
“Outside of Chicago, teams are already preparing possible maximum-salary offer sheets for Butler in free agency, including the Los Angeles Lakers as one of several expected suitors, league sources told RealGM. Even Butler’s college area connection, the Milwaukee Bucks, will have cap space in July. Around the league, there’s a question: How will Chicago handle the inevitable max out of a star player not named Rose?”
The Lakers have been connected to Butler for the past few months, and have the cap space necessary to make it happen with a number of big contracts coming off the books this offseason. With Kobe Bryant headed toward what will likely be his final NBA season, Los Angeles will be looking to find the new face of their franchise.
Will Butler want to join the Lakers, and will the Bulls be willing to part ways with him?
