Jimmy Butler (Photo : REUTERS)
Jimmy Butler, who will be one of the hottest free-agents up for grabs this summer, appears to be already being recruited by Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg in behalf of the Boston Celtics.
TMZ Sports spotted the reigning Most Improved Player of the Year hanging out with Whalberg in Los Angeles on Sunday, roughly two weeks after his Chicago Bulls succumbed to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games of their Eastern Conference semis series.
Wahlberg, a hardcore Boston area sports fan, told reporters that he's trying to get the 25-year old Butler to the Celtics, who indeed have the cap space to sign the two-way player to a lucrative contract this offseason.
Mark and the Chicago Bulls stud were hanging out in Beverly Hills together yesterday -- when someone asked Butler if he was considering signing with the Lakers when his contract is up this summer.
That's when Wahlberg jumped in and said he wants Butler in Beantown -- while acknowledging that someone is gonna have to pay A LOT of money to get his good friend J.B.
While no one knows if Wahlberg has the convincing power to bring in an All-Star caliber talent like Butler to Beantown, the Celtics nevertheless stressed that they are going to make a big splash this offseason by pursuing the best talent available out there.
Averaging 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 38.7 minutes per game, Butler evolved into one of the finest two-way players in the league by jacking up his offensive production while maintaining his elite level on-ball defense.
The Bulls are expected to lock up Butler for a max contract extension, but other big market teams like the Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks will try to snag the budding star with an over the top offer.
