Lakers Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Draft Trade, Jimmy Butler and More

The Los Angeles Lakers will begin preparations for the 2015-16 NBA season later this week when the team picks second in the draft.

The Lakers went 21-61 this past year, the fourth-worst record in the entire league. However, they have been one of the most popular teams in the headlines throughout the offseason in connection with a host of players and possible transactions. 

Not only do they own the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, but the Lakers own a second pick in the first round at No. 27. However, the team may be looking to deal that pick.

According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers are entertaining trade talks for the 27th pick in the draft in what would be a cap-saving move:

The Lakers currently have $32,907,214 in estimated cap space, according to Spotrac.com, the sixth-best situation in the NBA behind the San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

Only 10 active Lakers players are under contract for the 2015-16 season.

The Lakers will need to create as much space as possible in order to offer max contracts to the league's top impending free agents. That group includes the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, Goran Dragic and Paul Millsap.

Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders estimates some of the aforementioned free agents will command max contracts worth between $15 million and $18 million.

Butler Eyeing Move to Los Angeles?

The Chicago Bulls could face some serious competition from the Lakers as the team tries to re-up with restricted free agent Jimmy Butler this summer. 

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Butler plans on signing a short-term offer sheet this summer instead of the five-year contract the Bulls want to give him.

Per Wojnarowski, Butler is intrigued by the possibility of signing with the Lakers after spending the summer in Los Angeles and has plans to meet with a number of teams once free agency begins.

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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.

Butler has preliminary plans to pursue meetings with several teams once free agency starts in July, sources said. Several teams pursuing Butler told Yahoo Sports that they’re under the impression a short-term, max money offer sheet is the wisest way to approach Butler this summer. 

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According to Wojnarowski, Butler could sign a three-year deal with about $50 million in guaranteed money, but the deal would include a player option for the third year that would allow the player to become an unrestricted free agent and then pursue a long-term max contract.

Of course, Chicago recently hired Fred Hoiberg to be the team’s next head coach, so Bulls players are bracing for the changes on the horizon. 

In addition, "there's an increasing belief surrounding Butler and point guard Derrick Rose that they need to come to a greater understanding about how to best co-exist on the floor," Wojnarowski reported.

One would imagine this adds another layer to an already complicated situation for Chicago. 

Butler, 25, is coming off a career season in which he averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He is also an elite defender, which makes it all the more understandable as to why the Lakers would have interest in him, especially as the team considers the post-Kobe Bryant era in Los Angeles.

In 2014-15, the Lakers averaged 98.5 points per game, good for 17th in the NBA. The team allowed 105.3 points per game, the second-worst mark in the league.

Butler could play a critical role in turning both of those statistics around.

Lakers in the Mix for Sixth Man Williams?

As the Lakers make plans to address their starting five in the draft, free agency and potential trades, they also appear to be working on bolstering their team depth.

Jim Mone/Associated Press

According to Shams Charania of RealGM.com, the Lakers are among a handful of teams that are expected to make a play for Toronto Raptors guard Lou Williams, who was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for the 2014-15 season.

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Lou Williams is expected to receive strong interest from teams that include the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, providing a clear competition for the Toronto Raptors to retain the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year, league sources told RealGM.

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Per Charania, the Raptors and Williams have expressed a mutual interest in agreeing to terms on a deal, but the Lakers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are going to try to make a push for the guard. 

Williams, 28, is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 15.5 points per game in his 10th NBA season. In addition, the 6'2" guard averaged 2.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per game, playing in 80 games just two years removed from an ACL tear.

Aside from Bryant, the Lakers are strapped in terms of their backcourt depth. Jordan Clarkson is likely penciled in as the starting point guard ahead of Jeremy Lin, Ronnie Price and Dwight Buycks, and Wayne Ellington, Jabari Brown and Vander Blue will be listed behind Bryant at shooting guard.

The Lakers are in need of consistent backcourt contributors, and if the team winds up addressing its frontcourt with the No. 2 pick in the draft, it may have to find guards via free agency and trades.