The LA Lakers are looking to bring in free agents heading into camp and JaVale McGee, Bobby Brown and Brendan Haywood could be options along with Norris Cole to add depth on the roster for Kobe Bryant, D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Roy Hibbert and Julius Randle, as the team has only 12 guaranteed contracts this summer.
The Lakers have made a number of moves this summer in signing Lou Williams and Brandon Bass, trading for Roy Hibbert and drafting Russell fourth overall, but there is still more the team can do. The Los Angeles Times wrote last week that the Lakers have room to "balance" the roster with training camp players and the team also can add free agents. The team has guaranteed spots open and with Jordan Clarkson nearly guaranteed to make the roster, the Lakers could add another point guard.
UPDATE: The Lakers are reportedly working out Toure Murry, Eric Moreland, DJ Kennedy, Sean Kilkpatrick and Bobby Brown.
The Lakers love the potential of Russell and Clarkson, but they are young players and Russell is coming out of college as a freshman. The team reportedly is considering adding another player to the mix, as Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report has Bobby Brown getting a workout for the Lakers. Brown can play multiple guard spots and has experience at point guard and the report says that Brown could be in the mix for a "training camp invite" from the Lakers. Brown played last season in China and he has not been in the NBA for a few years.
The Lakers also could be in the mix for a big man, as Alex Kennedy at Basketball Insiders reports that JaVale McGee is a potential option for the team. Kennedy writes that the Lakers and Mavericks are considered the favorites with Los Angeles as the "frontrunners," according to sources. Kennedy reports that McGee is "focused on getting healthy" and it comes after the forward/center has missed over 100 games in the last two years. McGee and Brendan Haywood are on the market and could be options for teams looking for front court depth.
The Lakers have room for someone like Brown to come in and win a spot, as he can be used as a depth point guard slash combo guard option. Brown could be a low risk, high upside option if he works out and if the Lakers eventually trade Nick Young, the team would retain some depth. The Lakers shopped Young this summer but did not find a deal they found suitable and he is likely going to be with the team to open the season.
The Lakers have some flexibility right now at the end of the roster and while Robert Upshaw had a look from the team, Mitch Kupchak said he likely would not factor into things this season. The Lakers have Ryan Kelly, Jabari Brown, Tarik Black and Robert Sacre all in the mix behind main players like Lou Williams, Young, Kobe Bryant, Roy Hibbert and Russell, while Larry Nance is also likely in as a second round pick.
Check here for more on the Lakers offseason moves, interest in JaVale McGee and more on working out Bobby Brown.
