The Los Angeles Lakers are sure to be heading to an early exit this season. From an impressive showing at the start of the regular season, the team struggled to sustain their run in the middle to the end of the season. Now, recent reports are now linking them to Chicago Bulls superstar Jimmy Butler as a possible target this summer.
The Los Angeles Lakers had high hopes this season after getting the services of Luke Walton to be their head coach and drafting Brandon Ingram as the second pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Though the retirement of franchise player Kobe Bryant would be a big setback, the Lakers filled the roster with young talented players to compensate his loss.
It appears that all is going well for the Los Angeles Lakers as they have a 10-10 win-loss record at the end of November. But since then, they've lost 45 of their next 57 games and now reeling almost at the bottom of the Western Conference standing. Many are saying that the lack of a veteran player in their young core could be the reason for their breakdown.
And now, one potential asset that could be available for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer is Jimmy Butler. According to The Ringer, one NBA front-office official has declared that Butler is "as good as gone" heading into the offseason. The statement came as a surprise as Butler is the Bulls' leading scorer, second in assist and third rebounds contribution.
However, Jimmy Butler is not new in trade deals as he was almost traded in last month trade deadline by the Chicago Bulls. In fact, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams that were purportedly showed great interest in trading for Butler last month. And the same scenario could happen this offseason as the Lakers will be very active in the trade market.
And with new Lakers president of basketball operation Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka are now running the front-office, they are said to be open for possible trades most especially if talented players like Jimmy Butler is available. For now, Butler status is still speculation but the Los Angeles Lakers will surely be the team waiting for him in the trade market.
