The LA Lakers are coming into the offseason after their worst season in years and now a trade deal with Kyle Lowry could be a target for Steve Nash with the Toronto Raptors, while Luol Deng, Pau Gasol, Lance Stephenson and LeBron James are potential free agent targets for the team as they try and rebound with Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles will have a new head coach as well, with Mike Dunleavy, Alvin Gentry and Byron Scott as candidates.
The Lakers have a top 10 draft pick for the first time in quite a while after making it into the lottery this year and while they may look at trading the pick, this draft class this year is very deep. The Lakers are too far back to get someone like Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins, but they could be in the mix for players like Dante Exum along with Aaron Gordon, Kyle Anderson or Nik Stauskas. The Lakers want an impact player with the pick and they likely will get one and that could be the first of many moves for the franchise as they try and build things back this year.
During the 2013-14 season when Nash was injured some reports had the Toronto Raptors interested in acquiring Nash since he is from Canada, but the team started playing well and those rumors quickly faded away. The Raptors had a great season and with Lowry set to be a free agent, as sign and trade could be in the cards if he opts not to return. Lowry had his best career season in 2013-14 and led the Raptors to the playoffs and a division title and the team is hoping they can retain him. Deng and stephenson are top free agents on the market and so far it looks like they will not return to their teams, while Deng could go back to the Bulls after being traded to the Cavaliers this past season.
Last season the Lakers were terrible and went just 27-55 as Kobe Bryant was injured for most of the year and now they are looking to get back to their past glory. Even with the Donald Sterling situation, the Clippers have surpassed the Lakers in LA right now and that is embarrassing and now they may try and pull off some trades or signings to tip the scales back in their direction. Bryant is on his last legs, but he still has one or two more years left if he can remain healthy and if the team signs players like Deng or Stephenson, they have the chance to be at least a middle of the pack team in the west.
The defense overall must improve after ranking 29th in the league in points allowed last season and the team ranked 11th in scoring and 25th in rebounds per game. Players like Wesley Johnson and Nick Young stepped up in tough circumstances and now the Lakers could look totally new when they come back next season. Chris Kaman never gelled with Mike D'Antoni and now the head coach is gone and a number of names could be in the mix, including Mike Dunleavy and Kurt Rambis along with Derek Fisher and Alvin Gentry as well as Byron Scott, who used to play for the Lakers.
