Chicago Bulls restricted free agent guard Jimmy Butler is interested in signing a short-term deal with the Los Angeles Lakers according to Yahoo Sports since the NBA salary cap is set to increase in the 2016-17 season when the league's new television deal kicks in.
Butler turned down a five-year deal offered by the Bulls which will earn him around $90 million since the salary cap is expected to rise in 2016-2017.
Signing a short-term deal will allow the 25-year-old to have flexibility regarding his contract options and will give him the chance to earn more rather than inking a long-term deal which will give him a fixed salary.
According to Yahoo Sports, a few teams interested in Butler believe that a short-term deal is the best way to lure him out of Chicago.
But the Bulls must not worry since Butler is a restricted free agent, they have matching rights to any offer presented by any interested team.
Butler played his best basketball last season and there is no doubt that he is one of the main targets for teams once free agency begins this July.
He averaged 20 points, 3.3 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 65 regular season games played in the 2014-15 season and was the NBA's Most Improved Player.
Butler helped the Bulls reach the second round of the playoffs but were eliminated by eventual finalists the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If he signs with the Lakers, he will share the backcourt with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, Ronnie Price, Wayne Ellington and if they select Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell as the second overall pick in this year's draft.
Los Angeles is trying to build a contending team after missing the playoffs for the past two seasons following disastrous deals.
The Lakers ended last season with a 21-61 record, the worst finish in franchise history.
