Jimmy Butler is one of the best players of his generation and a future Hall of Famer. A defensive stalwart whose defining characteristic is an uncanny ability to raise his game once the pressure begins to mount, Butler is everything a contender could ask for.
In the curious case of the Los Angeles Lakers, however, Butler is the exact type of player who must be avoided for the sake of the future of the franchise.
Butler has pieced together a résumé that should enable him to comfortably walk into the harrowed halls in Springfield. He's a five-time All-NBA and five-time All-Defense honoree, as well as a six-time All-Star and the 2014-15 Most Improved Player.
Furthermore, Butler led the Miami Heat to NBA Finals appearances in 2019-20 and 2022-23, as well as the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021-22.
Throw in an Olympic gold medal and Butler has a track record that most players could only dream of. With this in mind, he looks the part of the perfect player to join forces with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, thus giving the Lakers a legitimate opportunity to win a championship in 2024-25.
For as intriguing as that possibility is, there's a single fact that proves Butler isn't the answer to the Lakers' current woes: He's 35 years of age.
Lakers must avoid giving up assets for extended-prime players
Despite his age, Butler continues to perform at an All-Star level in 2024-25. He's currently averaging 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.
During his most recent outing, Butler posted 35 points, 19 rebounds, seven offensive boards, 10 assists, four steals, and a block, shooting 12-of-21 from the field.
With this in mind, it's easy to see why a contender would be interested in adding Butler to their roster. He's a tenacious competitor with a proven history of stepping up in the playoffs, and there's some element of this being a low-risk move considering he's eligible for free agency in 2025.
For the Lakers, however, the pattern of giving up first-round draft picks for players who may not be around beyond the current season must end.
Los Angeles previously traded first-round draft picks in trades for Dennis Schröder and Russell Westbrook. Schröder ended up leaving Los Angeles the following offseason, while Westbrook was around for a season-and-a-half before the Lakers gave up another first-rounder just to trade him.
It's created an unavoidable hole that the Lakers are still attempting to climb out of with 2025 and 2027 first-round draft picks still headed elsewhere.
An obvious case can be made that Butler would be a better talent and fit than Schröder and Westbrook were at those stages, but there's a bigger picture to consider. Perhaps he could come in and help resolve the Lakers' extensive defensive woes and give them the late-game scoring threat they need, but between he and James, Los Angeles would be investing in two players on the other side of 35 to guide their perimeter.
Compounded by the fact that the Lakers would need to part with considerable talent just to make the salaries align in a potential trade, Butler epitomizes the type of player they must avoid.