NBA Trade Rumors: Heat to move Butler ASAP? Lackluster Lakers trade strategy
The Los Angeles Lakers might be playing it safe, according to NBA trade rumors.
The Los Angeles Lakers have already made a significant transaction to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets and are anticipated to make a purchase prior to the trade deadline. But don’t expect another huge trade, Jovan Budha of the Athletic says. The Lakers might instead choose to make no deal at all or a smaller one.
By acquiring Portland Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams or Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas, they may address a positional deficit, like at center, with a smaller price. However, the Lakers seem reluctant to part with either of their two tradeable first-round picks, which might keep them from making a big trade.
They are obviously not one of the better teams in the Western Conference, so if they are done making moves, it might be a mistake. If they end up in the play-in tournament, they also run the risk of losing their playoff spot entirely.
Their hesitancy might have something to do with the offseason, when they might have more tradable picks available to them in order to sign a well-known player. In any case, this might be LeBron James’s last NBA season, and the Lakers might not be strong enough to make a deep playoff run as they are right now.
According to NBA trade rumors, Jimmy Butler could be traded by the Miami Heat this week.
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are obviously divorcing, and we may now have a deadline in mind. By the end of this week, the Heat and Butler might be able to come to an agreement, according to NBA source Shams Charania. This could indicate that Butler is taking advantage of a new team sometime next week, with plenty of time left over ahead of a deadline.
Given that his market seems to have cooled off, that seems like a bold endeavor. Only the Phoenix Suns appear to be keen to sign him, despite the fact that he given the Heat a list of teams to negotiate with. To make a Butler-to-the-Suns trade materialize, a three- or four-team transaction might be necessary.
The Heat may have to reduce their asking price in order to let rid of one of their top players given his increasing distraction. If so, they might be prepared to accept whatever the Suns have to give in order to close a deal with Butler and begin a new chapter in their history. The Suns’ significant transaction to obtain more draft picks might benefit a prospective Butler.
