NBA: Predicting the landing spots for the top 15 free agents
Jimmy Butler (UFA)
After forcing his way out of Minnesota, Jimmy Butler went on to play a crucial role as the team’s top wing defender and closer in a season where they were one wrong bounce away from outlasting the now-champion Toronto Raptors. He has already declined his player option, and as mentioned before, it is looking highly unlikely Butler will find himself in Philadelphia next season.
As a free agent, there are plenty of teams who are interested in the wing’s services. The Lakers immediately jump out as a perfect fit, considering the lack of defensive prowess their team has outside of Anthony Davis. The Clippers, Knicks, and Nets are also possible destinations for him.
However, there is too much smoke being generated with those Houston sign-and-trade rumors, and if the Rockets manage to successfully devise a plan to trade away the likes of Eric Gordon, Clint Capela, and/or PJ Tucker, we may well be seeing Butler in H-Town next season. That locker room dynamic will be interesting to see, however.