With the Sacramento Kings currently struggling, the team is reportedly looking to free up space in their loaded small forward position.
According to espn.com, the "Kings plan to move Butler shortly after Christmas. Butler, 35, has found minutes hard to come by in the Kings' frontcourt." Butler has been linked to his home state of Milwaukee and with the Bucks having a disappointing season, is being eyed as a trade partner by the Kings.
After losing veterans Zaza Pachulia and Jared Dudley in the offseason, the Bucks would welcome Butler as a mentor to their young roster.
While the Bucks are certainly in the mix, the Los Angeles Lakers seem like a potential destination due to Butler and Kobe Bryant's well-documented relationship.
According to latimes.com, Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant recently said that Caron Butler is one of his best teammates of all time.
"Caron and I bonded in day one and that bond remains as strong today as it ever was even though he now wears a different uniform," Bryant writes in Butler's new book "Tuff Juice: My Journey From The Streets To The NBA."
"It's very rare for me to open up to somebody like that, but I just had a connection with him," Bryant added. "He's one of my favorite teammates."
As per Butler, Bryant was highly influential in his development as well. "Being up under the wing of Kobe Bryant and the relationship that we built over that time, I learned a lot about the game of basketball," Butler said. "I took the things that I learned from him, and that's why I had the success that I had in my career."
Based on a report by lakersnation.com, Butler only played 1 season with Bryant and the Lakers after he was traded from Miami for Shaquille O'Neal.
Butler remains to have high regards for the "Black Mamba." "[Bryant and I] stay in constant contact, either through text or email," Butler added. "He's a big brother. I consider him family, somebody I'll be friends with long after the game of basketball is over. He feels the same way, that's my brother for life."
It has been rumored that Butler could join Bryant for his last season and serve as a veteran leader on a young Laker squad. The potential trade would include Nick Young and his multi-year contract for Butler and a 2nd round pick.
