The Los Angeles Lakers missed out on the big name free agents like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, but the team has options in names like Greg Monroe, Eric Bledsoe, Jordan Crawford, Andray Blatche, Evan Turner, Andrew Bynum and Michael Beasley in free agency to give Kobe Bryant support after also signing Carlos Boozer and the team still could trade Steve Nash at some point if they hire Byron Scott as head coach.
The Lakers had a rough season with Kobe out with an injury, but they have some hope for the future in lottery pick Julius Randle and the team also has tons of cap space heading into next season. According to ESPN.com, the Lakers have signed Carlos Boozer and have also added Xavier Henry and now the team could go after someone like Blatche, Turner or Monroe, as they still have some cap space to spare. The Monroe deal is unlikely because he is an RFA and Bynum may sit out next season if his knees aren't up to playing and that would leave him out as well. Bryant has said that he endorses the hiring of Scott if the team wants to go in that direction and after the way things went with Mike D'Antoni, getting the approval of Kobe is likely a good idea.
Pau Gasol is on his way out of town after signing with the Bulls and he was the top rebounder on the team last season and now the Lakers will have to find a way to fill that void. The team signed back Xavier Henry after he played with Los Angeles last season and he is in on the veterans minimum and that gives the team another solid option on the roster alongside Bryant. The 23 year old averaged 10 points, three rebounds and one assist per game last season and those were career highs and he also shot over 40 percent to set a mark and the team now has 11 players on the roster with their free agent signings.
The team waived Kendall Marshall but they are interested in bringing him back and now they have also added Carlos Boozer after his amnesty from the Bulls by bidding $3.25 million on him. The Lakers may look at some other players like Andray Blatche, Andrew Bynum, Greg Monroe, Crawford or Turner, as they have money they can still spend and they also are looking at hiring a head coach still. The Lakers have moves to make and they are hoping Bryant can stay healthy for a full season at 36.
The Lakers are coming in after going 27-55 and while they should have a better record than last season, they still should be pretty bad, but if Kobe can come back and stay healthy, they at least can stay in the mix in the west. The team comes in after ranking 11th in points per game last season and they were also 29th in points allowed per game and that is the biggest area where the team needs to improve. The team ranked 25th in rebounds per game and fourth in assists and they need to strengthen things up the middle and adding Randle will help that.
