Oh Look Now Jimmy Butler Might Want To Be A Laker!
(Hoops Rumors) – Jimmy Butler is ‘open to the idea’ of leaving the Timberwolves to join LeBron James and the Lakers, a source close to Butler told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
While that’s not as definitive as Kawhi Leonard‘s well-known desire to play in Los Angeles — though the Raptors are already taking measures to change his mind — it’s certainly another intriguing avenue for the Lakers to pursue.
Butler can opt out of the final year of his contract and leave $19.84MM on the table to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and it’s generally assumed he’ll do that.
Butler would fit the bill of a second star to take pressure off of James. He’s a tough, defensive-minded player who has averaged 20 or more points for four consecutive seasons. He’s not a superior 3-point shooter but he’ll fill the stat sheet and he’s still got plenty of good years ahead of him if he avoids a major injury. He doesn’t turn 30 until next September.
Wait what happened? I thought Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving were a done deal to pair up with the Knicks next year? Now he may be open to the idea of joining LeBron in LA? Color me shocked!
I know I should have been mentally prepared for these type of rumors to come out involving players like Butler, it’s going to happen all season long too, but dear god man just shut the fuck up and focus on the Timberwolves will you please. We get it, you hate everything about your situation in Minnesota, probably from the coach down to the two young studs in Wiggins and KAT, but what does this accomplish? If the Timberwolves were smart, they would just trade Butler while he still has value because it is very clear he is leaving at the end of this season. It’s not exactly the same situation as Kawhi as Butler is a little older, and there’s no doubt he’s really good, but I’m just tired of hearing about all this shit and it’s not even September yet.
To be honest, the idea of Butler going to LA is way more believable to me than him going to the Knicks or even the Nets, especially if the Lakers strike out on Kawhi. I feel like we always see Butler in LA in the offseason and from a roster perspective that team would be better than any of the rosters the Knicks/Nets could put together if Butler is looking for one last serious run. Now to do this, Butler would have to leave some serious money on the table, as MIN can offer him a 5/190M deal while the Lakers would only be able to offer 4/140M. That is a shiiiiiitttttttt ton of money he’d be leaving on the table to still probably lose to the Warriors anyway.
If you’re MIN, given what you gave up to bring in Butler in the first place, it’s safe to say losing him for absolutely nothing would be a disaster for a franchise that finally looked like it was on the right path for the first time since KG was there. It would not shock me if they are hovering around a lower playoff seed that we see them move Butler by the deadline. Now it’s early and I haven’t had my morning coffee yet so maybe there would still be a possibility of a sign and trade next summer, but I don’t know how that team could be the Lakers given the salaries currently on their books.
As much as I am annoyed by these endless rumors, it’s silly to think they are stopping any time soon so I guess we may as well get used to it. Which makes me wonder, what is the next rumor we’ll get involving Butler?
1. “Jimmy Butler may be the perfect replacement for Carmelo in Houston”
2. “Jimmy Butler wants to be THE GUY, is considering the Clippers”
3. “Butler overheard talking about how money isn’t important at this stage and is considering GS”
4. “Reports suggest that maybe Butler would be open to a Bulls reunion”
5. “Danny Ainge was spotted eating at Chipotle with Jimmy Butler, what does it mean?”
To be honest though, LeBron/Butler/Ingram/Ball/Kuzma would be pretty good. I say go for it.