Carmelo Anthony has made a bold Jimmy Butler to Los Angeles Lakers claim as a Miami Heat exit seems like only a matter of time.
Jimmy Butler wants to get his joy back. The only way to do that appears to be leaving the Miami Heat, an organization he has guided to two NBA Finals since arriving in 2019.
Goodbyes are always hard, especially when it comes to franchise legends. But in situations like this, they are necessary.
Where will Butler end up though? That is the issue that the 35-year-old faces at this point in time.
Carmelo Anthony appears to have a preference in that regard. The Los Angeles Lakers. While speaking on 7PM in Brooklyn, he said: “Right now? I’m sending Jimmy to the Lakers. You got a veteran team, you got veteran guys on your team. Bron knows how to (expletive) with you, he know what you gonna bring to the team. They need defense, you bring that, you bring toughness and you can go get it. Bron don’t want to have to keep going and get it all. Like AD is going out there, doing what he’s doing. You put Jimmy alongside them.”
Butler teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles would certainly be an intriguing idea. The Lakers are not considered one of the frontrunners in the Championship race right now but with that core, they would certainly get a few steps closer to contention.
The issue is that the Lakers might find it difficult to come up with a trade package that the Heat would find satisfying.
The same thing can be said about a lot of teams around the league. Then there is the issue of Butler wanting to opt out of his player option next summer in order to sign a longer contract.
Rumors have suggested that the Phoenix Suns are the only team willing to meet Butler’s demands but the Heat are not interested in Bradley Beal heading to Miami as part of the deal.