Jimmy Butler to the LAKERS.

[MessiahUjiri]

Per Shams, Miami are listening in on Butler calls, and they couldn’t agree on an extension.

This is a good chance for Miami to retool around Adebayo. Also, Jimmy plus LeBron and AD would be absolutely fire.



Jimmy Butler, Thomas Bryant, Alec Burks
for
Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, 2 ‘25 2nds (LAC/LAL), 1 LAL 1st, salary (DLo, Gabe Vincent)


For Miami: Rui can be a good 3/4. Knecht and Herro can space the floor for Adebayo. Add in role players like Jacquez/Rozier/Jovic, and cap space for next year+ for the next Free Agent class.


For LA: Jimmy + LeBron + AD, while also getting a backup big in Bryant, and a bench guard in Burks.

[louc1970]

Getting Knecht for Butler would be a great get for Miami. Jaquez/Knecht/Herro make for a good youngish core.
I think Miami says, LA says no.

[Andre Roberstan]

I don't think LAL does this. I also don't think they SHOULD do this. Doubling down on old players and trading away young cost-controlled talent feels like a very bad idea.

Does Butler even address their primary needs?

[OutsidetheNBA]

Leaves the Lakers smaller, lacking depth in the frontcourt, and with worse spacing. But they might just have to do it. Butler is one of the few players I could imagine making them a contender if he can string together 4 straight series at his highest level.

What are the protections on the Lakers pick? And what year?

EDIT: Yeah, on second thought, I think the Lakers are just too thin after the trade. Bryant, Wood, and JHS should never play in the playoffs. Burks and Reddish really shouldn't be in a playoff rotation either. You'd have to count on Vanderbilt coming back and playing at a high level and the Lakers top 5 playing like 42mpg. Yikes.

Reeves/Lebron/JHS
Christie/Burks
Butler/Reddish
LeBron/Butler/Wood
Davis/Bryant/Wood

[KembaWalker]

Lakers would do this in a nanosecond, because LeBron would tell them to

[BBallFreak]

I don't think this works, salary wise. From what I can see, this comes to about $40 million outgoing from the Lakers.

Maybe this is one that would be a start for Miami, but they'd want to flip the package, along with other assets, for a better player...

[DanishLakerFan]

Leaves the Lakers smaller, lacking depth in the frontcourt, and with worse spacing. But they might just have to do it. Butler is one of the few players I could imagine making them a contender if he can string together 4 straight series at his highest level.

What are the protections on the Lakers pick? And what year?

EDIT: Yeah, on second thought, I think the Lakers are just too thin after the trade. Bryant, Wood, and JHS should never play in the playoffs. Burks and Reddish really shouldn't be a in a playoff rotation either. You'd have to count on Vanderbilt coming back and playing at a high level and the Lakers top 5 playing like 42mpg. Yikes.

Reeves/Lebron/JHS
Christie/Burks
Butler/Reddish
LeBron/Butler/Wood
Davis/Bryant/Wood

My thoughts exactly.

[_GH0ST_]

I would do this.

[JMAC3]

Lakers trading away 3 key contributors in Rui, DLo and Knecht for Butler to give them a grand total of 4 REAL NBA Players.

They could win a few playoff games, but they would have zero depth. Those 3 play 85 mpg, Jimmy is playing what 35 mpg. So you are replacing 50 mpg with more Christie, Hayes and Reddish? This doesn't win in the NBA. We just saw the Suns try this.

[DanishLakerFan]

Lakers would do this in a nanosecond, because LeBron would tell them to

Yeah, probably.

[mademan]

I don't think LAL does this. I also don't think they SHOULD do this. Doubling down on old players and trading away young cost-controlled talent feels like a very bad idea.

Does Butler even address their primary needs?

They have defensive needs at the 1-2-3-4, so somewhat, but you can probably solve those issues cheaper

[dcstanley]

Lakers should be able to get him without Knecht. The salary matching makes it too difficult to build a coherent team, though.

[BBallFreak]

Lakers should be able to get him without Knecht. The salary matching makes it too difficult to build a coherent team, though.

What incentive are you going to provide if not Knecht?

[Paz]

The Lakers would go all in with NBA players that, for the most part, are on their last legs. Bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it plays out.

[jazzfan1971]

I support this trade.

[MasterIchiro]

The Lakers feel like his ultimate destination. Not sure how you get there but I assume mutual interest.

Lakers are playing the LeBron window, which is brief.

[JMAC3]

This is the exact type of trade that has put the Lakers where are they now....

Traded 3 good depth pieces in KCP, Kuzma, Harrell and 1st for Westbrook - won 33 games and missed playoffs.

Traded Westbrook, Nunn, 1st and 3 2nds for DLo, Rui, Beasley and Vando- won 43 games and made WCF.

Hmmm wonder what type of trade they should make this time around?

[zimpy27]

Lakers should be able to get him without Knecht. The salary matching makes it too difficult to build a coherent team, though.

What incentive are you going to provide if not Knecht?

What about:

Reaves, Rui, DLo, Vincent, LAL29FRP

For

Butler, JJJ, Love, Burks

[BBallFreak]

Lakers should be able to get him without Knecht. The salary matching makes it too difficult to build a coherent team, though.

What incentive are you going to provide if not Knecht?

What about:

Reaves, Rui, DLo, Vincent, LAL29FRP

For

Butler, JJJ, Love, Burks

Jovic, not JJJ

And we'd need a third team to give us value for Reaves.

[JMAC3]

What incentive are you going to provide if not Knecht?

What about:

Reaves, Rui, DLo, Vincent, LAL29FRP

For

Butler, JJJ, Love, Burks

Jovic, not JJJ

And we'd need a third team to give us value for Reaves.

Lakers giving up a 1st round pick to get significantly worse here.
I don't even think Jimmy and LeBron would play well together.
Lakers would be lucky to make 5 threes per game after this trade.