Jimmy Butler is set to become a free agent this summer, and while he does not carry the cachet he may have had a couple of years ago, he is still one of the best two-way wings in the NBA and will definitely be one of the top players on the market this offseason.
We are already hearing that the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in signing Butler, which hardly comes as a surprise.
With LeBron James going on 35 years old, the Lakers need to win now, so going after a 29-year-old Butler, who is probably close to beginning his decline, seems like a wise thing to do.
Here are three reasons Los Angeles should sign Butler this summer.
3. Defense
Let's face facts: the Lakers were not a good defensive team this season. Yes, they had some injuries, but even when healthy, Los Angeles was mediocre at best defensively.
Butler would immediately help with that.
If the Lakers signed Butler, he would instantly become one of the best defenders on the squad, possessing the ability to guard multiple positions and do it tirelessly for a full game.
While Butler isn't a total lockdown defender like Kawhi Leonard, he can still make life very difficult for opposing wings due to his strength, toughness, solid lateral quickness and instincts, all of which make him an elite perimeter defender.
Los Angeles desperately needs a guy like Butler who can defend for 48 minutes.
2. A Secondary Scorer
While Kyle Kuzma looks to be a solid offensive player, it's blatantly obvious that he is not ready to be a No. 2 scorer on a good team just yet. With James seeking a title promptly, the Lakers need a guy like Butler to step in and fill that role.
No, Butler is not a terrific scorer, but he is really good and can absolutely go on tears when his team needs it.
In the playoffs, he served as the Philadelphia 76ers' go-to guy during droughts, as his superb conditioning allowed him to make buckets at any point in the game.
One downside to Butler's game is that he is not a great perimeter shooter, a problem that plagued the Lakers all season, but you have to think LA is going to address that problem this summer and surround James (and, in this scenario, Butler) with some guys who can knock down the 3.
1. A Potential Big Three of LeBron, Butler and AD
Before news broke of the Lakers' interest in Butler, Los Angeles was already in talks with the New Orleans Pelicans to acquire superstar big man Anthony Davis, who will almost definitely be on the move this summer.
If the Lakers can trade for Davis and then sign Butler, they would become one of the title favorites, and with the Golden State Warriors in flux, they might even become the clear best team in the West.
Butler has never been in a situation where he has been surrounded by that much talent, and if the Lakers trade for Davis and sign Butler, Butler would actually be the third option, which is probably where he needs to be in order to win a title.
Just imagine the defensive potential of a lineup that includes Butler and Davis. It's tantalizing, indeed.
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