Lakers Trade Rumors: Stars To Target If Moving NBA Draft Pick
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 26 (9/14/1989)
2016-17 Salary: $17,552,209
Slash Line: .454/.312/.832
Season Averages: 36.9 MPG, 20.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 3PM
If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to trade their 2016 NBA Draft pick, there would be few players more ideal to land than Jimmy Butler. The Chicago Bulls star is on a bargain of a contract, with under $17.6 million coming his way in 2016-17, and four more years of a similar pay structure with a player option for 2019-20.
According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, the Bulls publicly admitted to being open to trading Butler.
Wow. Asked about committing to Butler, Forman said, "We have to explore all options. With that said, Jimmy has had a fantastic year."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 14, 2016
Butler has three more guaranteed years on his contract, with his highest salary being $19,841,624 million in 2018-19—an incredible bargain for a player of his caliber. He’s been selected to the All-Star Game in consecutive seasons, has made multiple All-Defensive Team appearances, and will only be 29 years old during the 2018-19 season.
Butler may or may not be the No. 1 star Los Angeles is looking for, but he’s a relentless worker who’s a lockdown defender and a genuinely lethal secondary scoring option.
It’s worth noting that Chris Mannix of The Vertical recently reported that Kevin Durant would only sign with the Boston Celtics if Danny Ainge made a serious splash in free agency. One of the players whom Mannix listed as one of Durant’s preferred future teammates: Butler.
With or without Durant, Butler could be the key to a much brighter future in Los Angeles.
Next: Next Dominant Lakers Big Man?