The Los Angeles Lakers have spent their franchise history building rosters with incredible star power. One of their most effective tools for doing so has been the transfer market, bringing players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal to Los Angeles.

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Lakers are mentioned as the ideal destination every time a player emerges as a potential candidate for a transfer.

The latest big name on the transfer market continues this long-standing tradition. In a recent appearance on the TK Show, Sam Amick reported that the Golden State Warriors are interested in signing Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler.

The report follows Brian Lewis of The New York Post reported that Butler would be interested in joining the Brooklyn Nets next summer if he decides to leave Miami.

With Butler apparently on the open market, it should come as no surprise that he’s being linked to the Lakers. Los Angeles is trying to maximize its remaining chances to win with Anthony Davis and LeBron James as a superstar duo, and it’s uncertain how long they can maintain their All-NBA level.

The question is: What exactly would it look like if the Lakers coordinated a trade for Butler?

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently suggested several transfer packages that would see Butler leave the Heat. The Lakers were inevitably included as a possible destination, with a number of key players headed to Miami.

The final departure package would revolve around four key rotation players: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, D’Angelo Rusesll and Gabe Vincent, as well as two future first-round draft picks.

Even at 35, Butler is still considered one of the best players in the Association, having led the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023 and leading them to a third Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2022.

It was a career-defining run for Butler, and his resume includes five All-NBA and All-Defense selections, among others.

However, Butler is 35, while Hachimura, Knecht, Russell and Vincent are all under 30, have reasonable contracts and are capable of adding depth to an arguably thin roster, so it’s a difficult trade to evaluate when considering the opportunity cost and potential return on investment.

As fascinating as the trio of Butler, Davis and James may be, it is hard to ignore the age and possible lack of longevity of the new core group.

As interesting as the Big Three of Butler, Davis and James sounds, the Lakers simply cannot afford this trade. Including Knecht, Los Angeles’ first-round pick in 2024, this trade would mean the team giving up three first-round picks for a 35-year-old Butler.

They would also have to part with two regular players, Hachimura and Russell, and an important reserve player, Vincent – all for a limited time window in which the championship or bankruptcy is at stake.

Butler just turned 35 and has missed at least 18 regular-season games over the past four seasons. With a star trio like Butler, Davis and James, it would be hard to beat the Lakers in the playoffs, but injury concerns and age raise questions about whether the team could even make it.

Consider this: Davis, Hachimura, James, Austin Reaves and Russell all played in at least 68 games last season and the Lakers had to reach the playoffs via the play-in tournament.

Even if Los Angeles made the playoffs, it would have to rely on 32-year-old Davis, 35-year-old Butler and 40-year-old James to win it all in their first season as teammates. A championship justifies any transfer, but it’s also worth noting that their transfer window could close as early as the 2025-26 season.

As tempting as the chance of another title with Davis and James is, it wouldn’t be worth trading three first-round draft picks and three other proven players for a single season of title contention.

An ambitious idea, but a risk that the Lakers simply cannot take at this point.