The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be in a holding pattern. They have over half of their roster headed for free agency. They do not have a head coach and they have limited salary cap space heading into the offseason. The team is hoping to make a few splashy moves over the next two offseasons which likely will not include a trade, but might include two of the top free agents.
According to Sam Amick from USA Today Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers are quietly working behind the seasons to start getting the franchise relevant again. With Kobe Bryant hanging out overseas and Steve Nash wondering how many games he will play this season, news has been quiet coming out of one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. However, Amick notes that right now the team is working out their salary cap issues with the hopes that they can make room to sign both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony come free agency.
Amick reports that the Lakers believe they can beat the odds and land both super stars come July 1. This will be extremely tough and might simply be wishful thinking coming from the Lakers faithful. Landing the top two free agents on the market will not be easy or cheap. The Lakers have over $40 million tied up in the next two seasons to Kobe Bryant along with Nash's final contract year. They have no direction and are considered a mess at the moment. Is it realistic to think they can land James and Anthony?
Amick believes that James has the desire to team up with Anthony eventually and could use free agency to make the jump. Many believe both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will remain in Miami. If both of those players stay then it is highly likely that James stays as well. Anthony is more realistic than getting James at this point since he has already announced his plans to opt out with the Knicks.
The interest in James and Anthony comes after the Lakers were linked to a trade for Kevin Love. However, Amick believes that the Lakers are steering away from the Love trade simply because they lack the package to get the forward. The team has the draft pick to offer the Minnesota Vikings, but they simply do not have the talent under contract to trade in return for someone that will be the best free agent come 2015. The Lakers are dreaming big, but in the end they have a better shot at re-signing Pau Gasol and getting Luol Deng over James, Anthony and Love.