The LA Lakers are heading towards the draft lottery and into the summer of 2015 they will be looking to make major moves for Kobe Bryant and names like Kevin Love, Goran Dragic, Marc Gasol, Rajon Rondo and Greg Monroe arte potential targets, while Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer will likely be out after playing out their contracts.
The Lakers have just 14 wins this season and they are hoping that they can sign one or two prime free agents this summer as they try and turn things around. Bryant has one or two years left when he can play at a high level and Los Angeles is hoping to add some major free agent names. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are planning to go hard after Goran Dragic, even after he was traded to the Heat. Rajon Rondo also remains a target, but he may not leave the Mavs after getting traded to Dallas.
The Lakers originally wanted to target Kevin Love as a free agent before his trade to the Cavs, as he was preparing to opt out of his deal with the Wolves this summer. Love is on that same deal, but he may not opt out because he is in Cleveland. Some have speculated that he still will if the team doesn't win a championship and if that happens, expect the Lakers to go very hard after him. Monroe or LaMarcus Aldridge could be backup targets if the team doesn't get the chance to bid on Love. The Lakers also likely will not bring back Jeremy Lin or Carlos Boozer next season.
Marc Stein at ESPN.com writes that Miami is now in solid position to keep Dragic after trading for him. The team gave up two first round picks and they expect to try and keep him with a max extension. The Lakers are also planning to target Dragic, as Stein writes they may offer him a max deal of four years and $80 million, but the Heat can offer more money and an extra year. Dragic was the main target at the NBA trade deadline and the Lakers were interested in making a move, but not at the price Miami wanted.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are going to target Dragic this summer with a contract offer, but they can't give him as much as the Heat can. The Lakers reportedly will offer Dragic a four year deal and Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Dragic would "love the opportunity" to play in Los Angeles. The Lakers also may target Greg Monroe on the market this summer, as both Love and Marc Gasol could remain with their current teams. The Lakers have long coveted Gasol and while he will be a free agent and is expected to listen to offers, most people in the NBA do not see him leaving the Grizzlies.
A couple years ago the plan was to sign Kevin Love to a mega extension when he opted out in 2015 from the Timberwolves, but the Cavaliers trade threw all of that into uncertainty. Love has a number of options and some have speculated that he still could opt out this summer. If he does wait until 2016, Love will hit the market with Kevin Durant at the same time and still will be able to cash in with a deal.
