Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Jimmy Butler To Lakers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Lakers and Heat:

Jimmy Butler and Josh Richardson for D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick

“Butler joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis might actually make some sense,” Bailey wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “Despite the Lakers’ stars both playing like top 5-10 players in 2023-24, L.A. once again found itself in the play-in mix. And with much of the West potentially better this season, it’s hard to imagine running it back with the same supporting cast yielding a much different result.

“Adding Butler to the mix might create some interesting spacing issues. The floor could get a little crowded with him and AD both on it, but he’d obviously represent a talent upgrade. With LeBron turning 40 in December, the Lakers will have to take some pretty aggressive swings to win him another championship ring.”

A six-time All-Star, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in 60 games last season for the Heat while shooting 49.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.

Butler has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat. He’s made five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.

Butler will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he declines his 2025-26 player option, a move he’s expected to do. 

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games, while the Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round in five games. 

“Miami, meanwhile, might insist on Austin Reaves being in the deal instead of Gabe Vincent. L.A. might even budge on that or counter by taking one of the picks out of the framework,” Bailey wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “Either way, this would give the Heat some valuable draft assets (or again, one valuable asset). By 2029, LeBron and Butler will likely be long gone. Davis will be way past his prime. And L.A. first-rounders could be top 3-5 picks. Adding a couple young (or young-ish, in the case of D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura) to the already intriguing core of Herro, Jaquez and Jović would be even better.”