NBA Free Agency Rumors: Lakers ‘Pushing’ For Meeting With Jimmy Butler

Dan Duangdao
3 Min Read
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

With 2019 NBA free agency only hours away now, the Los Angeles Lakers are focused on signing a potential third All-Star player alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

As all of the attention has been on Kawhi Leonard and rightfully so, Jimmy Butler is a potential option if the Lakers do not want to split up their $32 million in cap space.

While there may be concerns about Butler’s locker-room presence, he is still one of the best two-way players in the league and showed it during the 2019 NBA playoffs.

As a result, the Lakers reportedly are making a late push now, according to Marc Stein of New York Times:

However, it appears Butler is currently focused on the Miami Heat, according to Tim Reynolds of Associated Press:

Leading up to free agency, the Lakers reportedly ‘rather split’ their cap space if they are unable to sign Leonard or Kyrie Irving. As Irving is expected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, the Lakers reportedly are a ‘true threat’ to sign Leonard from the Toronto Raptors — and not the Los Angeles Clippers.

While the Lakers have been linked to Butler, it has been very apparent he is not their first or second choice. As for Butler, he is interested in signing with the Miami Heat, but it would have to be a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Although there have been heated debates about Butler, the Lakers would be better off signing 2-3 role players.

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Dan Duangdao was the managing editor at Lakers Nation (2013-16, 2018-20). He is currently the founder at LA Sports Media, Lake Show, Raiders Nation, Rams Nation, Kings Nation, Galaxy Nation, and MMA Rumors. Born and raised in Southern California and a lifelong Los Angeles sports and mixed martial arts fan, his first NBA game was Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors with Michael Jordan in attendance during the 1998-99 NBA season. He was previously a contributor at HOOPSWORLD (now Basketball Insiders) and an NBA editor at ClutchPoints. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @DanDuangdao.