NBA Rumors: Lakers ready to offer Jimmy Butler a max contract
By Josh Hill
Jimmy Butler is going to receive a slew of offers this season in free agency, and the Los Angeles Lakers ma be near the top of the list.
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It was a miserable season for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they are in the ugly twilight of Kobe Bryant’s career as he cashes in — and out — on his career with the team. The Lakers haven’t been to the postseason since 2012-13 and their two years absence has been something that basketball fans both love but also can’t figure out.
Los Angeles is in a situation where they’re so bad, it’s almost not a sin again the sports gods to root for them, as the bandwagon is officially opening more seats and now is the time to get on. Waiting any longer to get on the bandwagon might be a mistake, as the team could get ver good very soon.
According to Shams Charania of RealGM, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of a handful of teams looking to offer Jimmy Butler a max offer this summer.
"Outside of Chicago, teams are already preparing possible maximum-salary offer sheets for Butler in free agency, including the Los Angeles Lakers as one of several expected suitors, league sources told RealGM."
Bulter has zero connections to the Los Angeles area, but a max offer and the chance to succeed Kobe Bryant as the next face of the franchise might be too great to pass up.
The Chicago Bulls made the mistake of low balling Butler last October when it came time to give him a max extension, as the team is in danger of losing him to the open market. The Lakers have historically been a team that everyone always assumes free agents will flock too but this seems to be an interesting period of mystery for the Lakers.
Los Angeles has always been alluring thanks to it’s rich history, but the Lakers are terrible and it will take a lot of work to make them better again. Jimmy Butler is quickly developing into a star for the next generation of players and the Lakers getting him this summer and making him the face of their franchise would be a brilliant move.
Then again, teams like Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York and Phoenix will all be looking to get Butler and make him a face of their franchise as well as the Chicago Bulls and their attempts to retain him.