Jimmy Butler Butler has interest in the Los Angeles Lakers. The Chicago Bulls are expected to offer him a five-year, $90 million-plus deal on July 1.
It isn’t hard to believe that Butler has interest in other teams. Before the season began, the Bulls offered Butler a four-year, $40 million extension and he turned it down. This doesn’t necessarily mean he didn’t want to stay in Chicago, but it’s possible that he thought he would eventually be worth more, like he is now. I believe it’s more likely that he had interest in going somewhere else, because after the 2013-14 season it looked like Butler wasn’t worth more than the $10 million a year he was offered.
In 2013-14 Butler averaged 13.1 points and 4.9 rebounds and he was just a good role player. It’s hard to believe that he thought he would improve as much as he did in 2014-15. This season he averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Butler is not only a terrific scoring option, but he is a lockdown defender. He has been a member of the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for two straight seasons.
In the playoffs Butler averaged 22.9 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Butler is a great option for the Lakers, because he is one of the best two-way players in the league and is only 25 years old. If the Lakers land Butler, he will become their starting small forward, making him the best small forward they’ve had in a long time. What makes Butler intriguing is that he and Kobe Bryant can swap depending on the matchups, like he did with Mike Dunleavy in Chicago. Offensively, he will help Bryant and Jordan Clarkson significantly, as he can create his own offense and has a high basketball intelligence.
If the Lakers acquire Butler and either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahil Okafor in the draft, they will be a threat in a loaded Western Conference. A realistic deal for the NBA’s Most Improved Player is three-years and $50 million, which is something the Lakers can afford. The Lakers will end the misery they’ve been through the last two seasons if Butler is signed.
George Middleton is a Los Angeles Lakers beat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @george51391, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google