The LA Lakers may pursue Jimmy Butler as a free agent this summer with an offer sheet that the Chicago Bulls could be forced to match, as the team is interested in signing the most improved player of the year in restricted free agency and this comes as players like Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic and Greg Monroe could be potential targets in free agency to join Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles.
Butler has long been expected to stay with the Bulls after he becomes a free agent, but there is a chance that the Lakers or another team could get him on an offer sheet. According to Yahoo Sports, Butler is planning on going for a "short-term contract" this offseason as a restricted free agent, which would allow him to get a new deal when the salary cap is expected to rise considerably. Adrian Wojnarowski writes that Butler could sign a short term deal now and make over $150 million in the future on a larger, long term deal.
Wojnarowski also reported that Butler has been "interested" in signing an offer sheet with the Lakers this offseason and that Butler has "preliminary plans to pursue meetings" with teams as a free agent. Butler reportedly is "resisting" the maximum contract extension that he would get from the Bulls in the hopes of signing a shorter deal. The Bulls can match any offer for Butler, so teams risk dealing with that issue, but Butler could use this as leverage to get more over a short deal from the Bulls before cashing in on a max contract down the line.
Butler becomes a restricted free agent once the Bulls make him a $4,433,683 qualifying offer for next year and that will set things off this summer. That will allow the Bulls to match any offer that Butler gets on the market and all signs point to the team doing that. The Bulls just brought in Fred Hoiberg after some players felt uncomfortable with Tom Thibodeau as head coach and the team is very interested in keeping Butler long term.
Butler has emerged as one of the best young players in the league after putting up the best stats of his career last season, averaging 20 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Bulls. Butler can get a deal from the Bulls for five-years $90 million as a max contract, but he could make over $50 million more if he signs a short term deal and gets another contract in a couple seasons. The Lakers have the money to at least try for Butler if they want and if that doesn't work, players like Greg Monroe, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rajon Rondo are also on the market.
Rondo is a potential target with Goran Dragic likely remaining in Miami, as he is one of the top points guards hitting the market this summer. Rondo has long been interested in signing with the Lakers and Pro Basketball Talk reports that he is unlikely to go back to Dallas after his trade this season. Greg Monroe has been mentioned as the number one target for the Knicks, but he also could be an option for the Lakers, as Marc Gasol is expected to stay in Memphis. Monroe had a career year and he could end up with a max contract from Boston, NY or Los Angeles this summer.