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Los Angeles Lakers 2015 Free Agency Primer

By Jackson Sanders

March 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. The Bucks won 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. The Bucks won 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

Jimmy Butler Is Interested In Los Angeles Lakers, But Restricted Free Agency Will Intervene

The Lakers would love to find the heir to Kobe Bryant, who will likely play his last season in 2015-16. Jimmy Butler is one of the premier two-way shooting guards in the game, and at age 25, he would be a fantastic acquisition for the team to accelerate their rebuild.

And look! He’s been linked to the Lakers

just like every other major free agent

!

"Lastly, Chicago forward Jimmy Butler hopes to take his talents elsewhere and take advantage of the new television deal after his career year coincided with Tom Thibodeau’s firing and Derrick Rose’s chemistry issues. Although Butler wants to sign a one-year deal with the Lakers, according to a league source familiar with his thinking, the Bulls are expected to match any offer for the restricted free agent. Source: Mark Medina, Los Angeles Daily News"

The problem is that Jimmy Butler will be staying in Chicago, at least for one more year, due to restricted free agency. Further complicating things, the Bulls gave Butler a maximum qualifying offer, which puts restraints on how many years other teams can offer him. Eric Pincus is always great with this stuff, and clarified some of the details of what that means for Butler and his upcoming free agency.

I wrote a bit more extensively about the Lakers pursuing Jimmy Butler in an earlier post you can find by clicking right here.

So, assuming the Bulls will match (and they have absolutely every reason to), the Lakers would be tying up their money for a few days in a player they will never roster. Related: Jimmy Butler will almost assuredly not be a Los Angeles Laker in 2015-16.

Ultimately, Butler being linked to the Lakers has much to do with agent posturing, and little to do with basketball. If Butler wants a max-contract right now, he will get it from someone and the Bulls will match. If he wants to bet on himself again and enter free agency unrestricted a year from now, he will take the qualifying offer.

Crazy things happen during the NBA offseason. It’s just impossible to envision the Bulls giving up their most precious asset, even more so considering they would receive nothing in return to replace him.

Next: Can We Go Back To 2006? Please?

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