Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Don’t fret about Jimmy Butler

The Los Angeles Lakers rumors are already starting this offseason as LeBron James has reportedly already reached out to certain stars to recruit.

Everyone that even knows a little bit about basketball knows that the Los Angeles Lakers are going to attempt to sign a second superstar this summer. It is the two-star plan that has been promised for over two years and we are entering arguably the deepest free agent class in NBA history.

There are massive superstars available, such as Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, which are just the tip of the iceberg.

Leonard, in particular, has ties to the Los Angeles Lakers due to his connection with the city of Los Angeles. Those ties are obviously more than speculation as well as LeBron James has reportedly already reached out to Leonard to recruit him for next season.

Leonard, who just took a 3-2 series lead with the Toronto Raptors over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, does not strike me as somebody that will talk about his future plans while in the middle of a title run.

I get that all signs are pointing to Leonard leaving the six, but Leonard is certainly focused on his play and these recruitment attempts likely did very little for him.

One player that might be more open to getting recruited, and one that was also in the report with Leonard as being recruited by James, is Jimmy Butler. Butler is obviously not in the NBA Playoffs anymore after Leonard’s Raptors knocked the Philadelphia 76ers out in the second round.

Butler coming to Los Angeles has felt like an inevitable reality that most Laker fans do not want to cope with. Butler does not have the best locker room track record in the league and his reputation has taken a massive hit as a result.

That hit in his reputation has also lowered his likely price. It would not be crazy if no team offers him a four-year max contract because of his past. That is what makes the Lakers so perfect.

The Lakers’ front office, needing to save face, would definitely overpay for Butler just to say they got a second superstar. And while that sounds like a terrible situation, it really isn’t. It might not be the best financially, but it does put the team in a position to win.

The locker room problems are a legitimate worry and as long as the Lakers are assured that he won’t be like that in LA then it is a move worth making. Heck, as long as the Lakers win, Butler might end up being a great teammate.

His value on the court is undeniable and he is the perfect second star to play alongside LeBron James. He plays great defense and can be that guy that guards the other team’s best scorer. A defensive backcourt of him and Lonzo Ball would be terrifying for opposing teams.

Not only that, he is someone that can play off-ball with James as well as create his own shots on the ball to give James a break. The Lakers would be looking at a 20-5-5 guy that plays elite defense and actually fits into the rotation; that is a rare fit.

And while it would obviously be better to get Leonard or Durant, there is no reason to fret over getting Jimmy Butler.

Will the Los Angeles Lakers end up overpaying based on his next best offer? Probably. But will the Lakers be significantly better with him on the court? Absolutely.