The Los Angeles Lakers, as always, have been one of the most frequent names to appear in the annual roundup of NBA trade rumors. The Lakers are off to a solid 7-4 start but have glaring weaknesses in the frontcourt behind Anthony Davis and on the perimeter, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Across the country, the Miami Heat have also been included in mock trades. Jimmy Butler will likely opt out of his $146 million contract at the end of this season and test his value on the open market. Instead of losing him for nothing, the Heat are expected to trade him before the deadline.
The Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets and even Milwaukee Bucks have long been tied to Butler, but a recent ranking of possible landing spots by The Dunk Central gives the Lakers the second-best odds to land the six-time All-Star.
Butler, 35, is coming off a season where he only played in 60 games. However, he remained one of the better defenders in the NBA and averaged 20.8 points on elite 41.4% shooting from 3-point range. This season, he is off to a slow start, but a starting five in Los Angeles of Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, LeBron James, Butler and Davis would be elite, and Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt, when healthy, could come off the bench.
The Lakers have up to five first-round draft picks to trade or swap, although they won’t have to part with nearly all of them to land Butler. By sending out D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Christian Wood, along with picks, the Lakers can give James and Davis one last chance to win a ring with a new third star.