The Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to focus on 2015 with this season already appearing to be a wash. After losing Steve Nash, Julius Randle and Kobe Bryant to season-ending injuries, hope is not high for the coming two months. However, in the upcoming offseason, the Lakers will have some of the most salary cap space to use on free agents and the first position taking priority is the point guard spot. Could the Lakers make a trade with the future in mind?
The Lakers need stability at the point guard position. With Nash out at the end of the year and Jeremy Lin becoming a free agent, the team has Jordan Clarkson left as their best potential. That has Los Angeles targeting plenty of big names, but with Rajon Rondo off the market there will be heavy competition for the top point guards which is headlined by Goran Dragic.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Lakers have every intention of winning Dragic with a max contract in free agency, but could try and trade for him first. Dragic is currently on a very crowded backcourt with the Phoenix Suns as both Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas are signed to big contracts. That leaves Dragic to head off into free agency and with Rondo presumably swept up, he has the attention of every team.
Stein reports that the Suns are looking for a first-round pick in return for Dragic which is a heavy price considering he is expected to head out in the summer. The Lakers have been interested in Dragic for over a year now and will attempt to text the trade waters before the Thursday deadline, but do not expect a deal to happen. Los Angeles owes Phoenix and Orland first-round picks in the future so they simply are not in a position to trade right now. That could also leaves them out of the mix for players like Reggie Jackson and Jose Calderon while forcing them to hold off on a move until the summer.
Kobe Bryant is hoping the Lakers are aggressive at the deadline. Forced to lead from the sidelines, Bryant has every intention of returning in 2015 and is hopeful the team has been built up for his last season.
"I can't say it is the end," Bryant said, via NBATV.com. "I thought the Spurs were done 20 years ago. Those guys are still winning. So, to answer the question, I can't say this is the end of my era because I thought their [era] was done and they're still there. So I'm hoping I can have the same rebirth."