The Los Angeles Lakers have spent the duration of franchise history constructing rosters flush with unfathomable star power. One of its most effective means of doing so has been the trade market, through which it's brought the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O'Neal to Los Angeles.
With this in mind, it should surprise no one that the Lakers are mentioned as an ideal destination any time a player surfaces as a potential candidate to be traded.
The latest marquee name to surface on the trade market has marked a continuation of that longstanding tradition. In a recent appearance on The TK Show, Sam Amick reported that the Golden State Warriors are interested in acquiring Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler.
The report comes on the heels of Brian Lewis of The New York Post reporting that Butler would be interested in signing with the Brooklyn Nets next summer if he chooses to leave Miami.
With Butler seemingly on the open market, it should come as no surprise that he's been linked to the Lakers. Los Angeles is looking to maximize the remaining opportunities to win with Anthony Davis and LeBron James as a superstar pairing, and the timeline for how long they'll maintain their All-NBA level of play is uncertain.
The question is: What exactly would it look like if the Lakers were to coordinate a trade for Butler?
The Trade
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently proposed several trade packages that would center around Butler leaving the Heat. The Lakers were inevitably included as a potential destination, with a number of key players shipping out to Miami.
The final outgoing package would be centered around four key rotational players: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, D'Angelo Rusesll, and Gabe Vincent, as well as two future first-round draft picks.
Even at 35 years of age, Butler is still regarded as one of the best players in the Association. He led the Heat to the NBA Finals in both 2020 and 2023, and guided them to a third Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2022.
It's been a career-defining run for Butler, who boasts a résumé that also includes five All-NBA nods and five All-Defense selections.
Butler is 35, however, while Hachimura, Knecht, Russell, and Vincent are all players who are under 30, on reasonable contracts, and capable of providing depth to an arguably thin roster. As such, it's a difficult trade to evaluate when factoring in the opportunity cost and potential return on investment.
For as intriguing as the Butler, Davis, and James trio would be, it's hard to discount the age and the potential lack of longevity of the new core group.
The Grade
For as interesting as a Big Three of Butler, Davis, and James sounds, the Lakers simply can't afford to do this trade. Including Knecht, Los Angeles' first-round selection in 2024, this trade would effectively see the team give up three first-rounders for a 35-year-old Butler.
It would also be parting with two starters in Hachimura and Russell, and a key reserve in Vincent—all for a limited championship-or-bust window.
Butler just turned 35 and has missed at least 18 regular season games during each of the past four seasons. It'd be tough to defeat the Lakers in the playoffs with a star trio like Butler, Davis, and James, but injury concerns and age pose the question of if the team could even get there.
Keep in mind: All of Davis, Hachimura, James, Austin Reaves, and Russell appeared in at least 68 games last season, and the Lakers had to reach the playoffs via the Play-In Tournament.
Even if Los Angeles were to make the playoffs, it would be banking on a 32-year-old Davis, 35-year-old Butler, and 40-year-old James to win it all during their first season as teammates. A championship justifies any trade, but it's also worth noting that their window could close as soon as the 2025-26 season.
For as intriguing as a shot at one more title with Davis and James is, trading three first-round draft picks and three more proven commodities for a single season of contending wouldn't be worth it.
An ambitious thought, but a risk the Lakers simply can't afford to take at this stage.