Ken Blaze – USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Butler has quickly become one of the best two-way wing players in the league, and he will likely be receiving several huge offers this offseason. As a restricted free agent, the Chicago Bulls can still match any of the offers, but it is unclear whether they would be willing to commit that much money to Butler going forward. They currently have large contracts for Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah on the books, and may need to get more creative in order to win the Eastern Conference next season.
Regardless, the Los Angeles Lakers should still make every attempt to sign him this offseason, as he could help make the team significantly better for the future.
There is no doubt that his offensive game has improved immensely since he first entered the league. Butler averaged 20 points a game last season while shooting 46 percent from the field. He has improved his outside shooting to a respectable 38 percent, but still puts a lot of pressure on defenses by attacking the rim constantly. He is a physical player who gets to the free-throw line often and is not afraid of the contact.
Butler is also one of the top defenders in the league, and he draws the opposing team’s best perimeter player on a nightly basis. Being strong and athletic, his size allows him to match up with both shooting guards and small forwards. He averages almost two steals a game and is a strong rebounder as well.
Butler would be a good fit next to Kobe Bryant next season, and could also be one of the stars to carry the torch when Bryant retires. He is a versatile player who can play at both ends of the court, and would certainly help the team attract other free agents in the future. He is already one of the best two-way perimeter players in the league, and would be a great building block for the Lakers.
