Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest storylines to watch after free agent frenzy

4. Jimmy Butler becoming a “plan B” trade target

Man oh man, things are not looking great for the Minnesota Timberwolves. First, there were reports that Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves were not at a good place internally. Now, reports indicate that superstar Jimmy Butler is fed up with the young Timberwolves’ core and has no plans of signing an extension after his contract is up next summer.

This is huge news as the Timberwolves, who were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Rockets, have just a fighting chance of coming close to making a title run. As talented as the unit is, the team simply does not gel well together and does not have the depth to overthrow the Warriors or the Rockets.

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Thus, the Timberwolves could play it smart and trade Butler for other young assets, allowing the team to stay relevant while growing together, as the Warriors allowed their young core to do before becoming the best team, record-wise, in NBA history.

Lonzo Ball, as we mentioned on the previous slide, becomes an immediate trade target for the Timberwolves. Since Butler is on a one-year deal, the Lakers would be able to send just Ball, Luol Deng and some draft picks in order to secure Butler.

The starting five would then be a little quirky with Rajon Rondo starting at the point but it would still give the Lakers some flexibility in the future. LA would own Bird Rights on Butler. With Deng’s contract off the books, LA could theoretically extend Butler next summer and bring in Kawhi Leonard. Now that is a big three.

Ball would be a great fit on the Timberwolves as the distributor to get both Andrew Wiggins and Towns open looks and would also give the team the good defense that Butler brings. Ball is about as perfect of a fit as you can have alongside Wiggins and Towns and Butler is a better fit alongside LeBron if LA cannot land Leonard this summer.

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The chances of that deal happening are smaller than others but is still an interesting storyline to watch moving forward.