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If James and Davis decide to put pressure on the Lakers for an all-in move this offseason, Butler wouldn’t be a bad addition to this roster. There’s the very-real potential for this hypothetical trio turning into a disaster because all three of them have injury question marks.
James missed at least 27 games in three consecutive seasons before making 71 starts in 2023-24. Davis’ 76 starts last season marked the first time he hit the 65-game threshold since 2017-18. Butler hasn’t played more than 65 games in a season since 2016-17.
But if the Lakers can get one healthy season from all three of them, they could be as good as any trio in the NBA. Opposing teams would have all sorts of issues trying to score against Butler and Davis.
The Warriors could have a need for help on the wing if they lose Klay Thompson in free agency. There are rumblings they could try to make a push for Paul George if he opts in to his $48.8 million salary for next season to facilitate a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers.
If that pursuit doesn’t pan out, Butler would be a nice fallback option for a Golden State team that needs to take a big swing if it wants another shot at competing for a title while Stephen Curry is still in his prime.
Similar to the Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers have been linked to George if he becomes available. They would have the ability to sign him into cap space as a free agent if he were to opt out of his deal with the Clippers.
Since there is some buzz that Philadelphia doesn’t feel good about landing George, a reunion with Butler could be a good alternative. The Sixers need plenty of help if they want to catch the Boston Celtics and keep pace with the New York Knicks, who have agreed to a trade for Mikal Bridges, in the Eastern Conference hierarchy.
Even though the 76ers have undergone some significant changes since Butler left after the 2018-19 season, the biggest piece still remaining is Joel Embiid. They know how to play together, and Tyrese Maxey’s emergence as an All-Star would give them a more dynamic offensive point guard this time around than when Ben Simmons was the primary facilitator.
