Hoops Habit
Fansided

2019 NBA free agency: Ranking Jimmy Butler’s best landing spots

By Daniel Lubofsky

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Sacramento Kings

Look, the New York Knicks have a valid case to make an appearance on this list. Flushed with cap space and looking to cash in on a big-name player, they could certainly do a lot worse than a multiple time All-Star coming off another stellar season

Alas, New York’s front office has been adamant about managing their money smartly, which means not chasing after B-list stars after possibly striking out at the top.

So, in the spirit of creativity and the unpredictability of NBA free agency, it’s the Sacramento Kings who show up here with plenty of cap space this summer.

In just one season, Sacramento managed to evolve from an NBA laughing stock to a competent franchise with a bright future.

The team won a surprising 39 games in the brutally competitive Western Conference and were in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot until the early days of March.

The duo of De’Aron Fox and Buddy Hield took a sizeable leap in the individual progress, so much so that the backcourt has set itself up to be one of the best with time.

Having recently brought in head coach Luke Walton — whose abilities are admittedly still up for questioning — the Kings are looking to move forward in their quest back to playoff relevancy.

With Harrison Barnes opting out of the final year of his contract, the Kings are in desperate need of help on the wing.

With Fox and Hield still learning the ropes, Butler could step right in and show them the way, along with helping improve a defense ranked just 21st in efficiency this past season.

Sacramento is not a sexy living destination for NBA athletes, but it still resides in the sunny state of California. Butlers never appeared to be one to back down from a challenge.

His biggest one yet could be to put over a top a desperate organization looking to end a dreadful postseason drought that’s lasted since 2006-07.

Home/NBA Free Agency