The city of Los Angeles continues to operate in a severe drought. For the Los Angeles Lakers, their big-name, free-agent drought could be over sooner or later.
Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Chicago Bulls free agent Jimmy Butler is finding the Purple and Gold more and more attractive as a destination in July.
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"As Butler spends time in Los Angeles this summer, a stretch that's included an overseas 'Entourage' promotional jaunt with producer Mark Wahlberg, Butler's intrigue with signing a potential Los Angeles Lakers offer sheet has increased, league sources told Yahoo! Sports."
According to Yahoo, Butler is becoming increasingly disenchanted with the notion of signing a max contract with the Bulls. Chicago can offer him a five-year deal worth $90 million, more than any other team.
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The Bulls won't lose Butler to free agency in July if they don't wish. Butler is a restricted free agent, meaning Chicago can match any offer sheet any other NBA team gives to Butler.
"For Chicago, there's no challenge to retaining Butler," Yahoo! Sports reported. "As a restricted free agent, the Bulls have matching rights on any offer sheet. Nevertheless, Chicago could be faced with Butler's agents at Relativity Sports, Happy Walters and Steve McCaskill, loading up a short-term offer sheet that includes a trade kicker and the potential loss of Butler to unrestricted free agency in 2017."
Still, Butler plans to pursue meetings with several teams when the free-agent period begins - not a good sign for the Bulls.
Butler is coming off his best season as a pro in 2014-15. He averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The fourth-year player earned his first All-Star selection.
The Lakers could be intriguing if Kobe Bryant can stay healthy for what appears to be his final season in 2015-16. Los Angeles has the No. 2 pick in the draft that takes place Friday and are looking to use it on Duke center Jahlil Okafor. They also have power forward Julius Randle returning from a broken leg he suffered on opening night last season.
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