The Los Angeles Lakers have an elephant in the room and it goes by the name of Steve Nash. The veteran point guard played just 15 games last season as the Lakers drowned at the bottom of the Western Conference. With one year left on his contract, Nash plans on sticking around and crippling the cap space for the team. However, are the Lakers still planning a big move at the point guard position to start building the team post-Nash?
The Lakers have been linked to several rumors over recent weeks. Now armed with the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft, they are facing even more speculation over potential moves in the offseason. Plenty of teams want that pick considering the depth of this year's draft class, and the Lakers may be willing to give it up for a big player if they cannot outright sign a free agent.
According to NBA beat writer Peter Vecsey, the Lakers are planning on targeting free agent Kyle Lowry, who exceled with the Toronto Raptors this year. Any team looking to sign Lowry will have to offer something in the $10 million range. The Lakers would have to get creative to make that happen thanks to Nash's contract, but if the point guard wants to sign with a high-profiled team, Los Angeles is it.
Getting Lowry is easier said than done thanks to Nash and the massive two-year deal Kobe Bryant signed, so a trade might be the best option in order to rebuild now. According to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report, the Lakers could be poised to trade the No. 7 pick for a top player instead of signing one. While the team would like to land Kevin Love, they simply do not have the assets to give back and make the deal worth it.
The Los Angeles Daily News has been linking the Lakers with Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams. The veteran is currently about to undergo surgery on both ankles. Signed to a massive contract, the Nets could be willing to take a smaller return in order to get him off the books. There is no confirmation that either side is looking to move on, but Williams played a major factor in the postseason downfall of Brooklyn and the Nets will not accept that for another season.
Could the Lakers make a run at a trade for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik? Giving the No. 7 pick for both players seems a little high. Lin is not worth that much and neither is Asik, but getting both together could be useful for the Lakers, especially if Nash sticks around. There is also the idea being tossed around of Rajon Rondo. The Boston Celtics have the No. 6 pick in the draft so getting the No. 7 pick seems like a waste. They are another team interested in acquiring Love so they likely would not strike a deal with the Lakers too.