Philadelphia 76ers Could Be Lakers’ Free Agency Plan B to Pair with LeBron James

Jimmy Butler and the Philadelphia 76ers have great plans for the upcoming postseason. The Los Angeles Lakers have great plans, too. They will miss the playoffs, but the upcoming offseason is really important for the team. The front office will go after another big player.

Butler is expected to opt out of his $19.8 million final year of his contract with the team to look for another deal starting at $32.7 million. Tobias Harris and JJ Redick will enter free agency, and the Sixers will have to spend too much to keep their core together.

The Lakers will do their best to add an All-Star alongside LeBron. This has been their plan since the very first moment LeBron confirmed his intentions to ink a deal with the team. Is Butler the person they want on the court?

“L.A., sources said, was one of several teams to inquire about Butler before the swingman was traded to Philadelphia,” Dave McMenamin reported.

Butler is an aggressive scorer and wing defender. He may not be a true shooter, but when it comes to points, you can call him “Jimmy Buckets.”

With the 76ers, Butler averaged 18.5 points, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals in his 53 games with the team. He would be an excellent addition to the Lakers, and the team won’t have to give up on the young players.

If Magic Johnson renounces his rights to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Mike Muscala, Lance Stephenson and Reggie Bullock, the team will reach the necessary $32.7 million in cap room to give Butler a four-year contract worth $140.6 million.

“I don’t know… I mean, obviously we all know what’s been going on in Minnesota with Jimmy from the beginning,” LeBron said at the time Butler signed with his current team. “So I guess they both feel – I mean I think it’s good for both sides, I guess. They weren’t happy, Jimmy wasn’t happy. I think were a contender before. It only enhances what they are able to do. They’ve got Ben and Joel and now you add in Jimmy, I think that is going to be a very, very good team,” LeBron said.