There are several realistic and unrealistic trade targets the Los Angeles Lakers could pursue this season.
Regarding realistic trade targets, there’s a solidified Miami Heat superstar the Lakers should consider examining.
“Even the most diehard Lakers fan would admit that the Lakers are not a tough team right now,” Fansided’s Terrence Jordan wrote Friday.
“Mentally, they seem to check out whenever they face a big deficit, which is why we’ve seen some laughably lopsided scores this season.”
“The defense, especially in transition, is atrocious, and the team doesn’t rebound all that well, either. You can’t hang in the West if you’re soft, and the Lakers are looking like those Squishmallows that my kids love so much.”
“There aren’t many players in the league that are tougher than Jimmy Butler. Anyone that has paid any amount of attention to the NBA in the last decade knows it, and the Lakers got a firsthand look when he willed the Heat to six games against L.A. in the bubble Finals of 2020.”
“Every team that Butler has played on has either been tougher because of him, or has sent him packing because he’s worn out his welcome when other players couldn’t match his intensity. In all cases, Butler has been proven right in hindsight.”
“Butler has been great on the Heat, but Miami’s window of being able to contend for a title appear shut.”
“The team is only 10-10 in a weak Eastern Conference (even after blasting the Lakers by 41 points on Wednesday), and team president Pat Riley is not known for being ok with mediocrity.”
“Trading the 35-year-old Butler so that Miami could pivot to a new era would fit Riley’s MO, while at the same time giving the Lakers the kick in the (expletive) that they really need right now.”
Butler wasn’t the sharpest wing to begin the 2024-25 season, but he’s raised his level of play lately, recording 20+ points in five of his last 11 outings and shooting 46.2% from three-point land in November.
The methodical mid-range assassin and hard-nosed defender is also connecting on 54.8% of his field goals in Year 14, a career-high for Butler.
Still, the Heat sit at 10-10 through the first 20 games of the year, a prime example of performing below expectations in the Eastern Conference.
The Lakers, who are also underperforming this year, could benefit from adding another star with championship aspirations.
However, the Heat would likely want to receive a prized first-year asset in Dalton Knecht and draft capital to help set them up for the future, causing Los Angeles to miss out on a golden opportunity to develop their rookie sensation.
If the Lakers choose to pursue Butler, though, they’ll have to do what’s necessary to acquire the future Hall of Famer.