The Los Angeles Lakers may look at Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, a Rajon Rondo trade, Ricky Rubio or LaMarcus Aldridge as free agent options over the coming year, as they will have money to spend on the market in 2015 for Kobe Bryant and that could come after Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin are done with La at point guard, as both players are on expiring deals with the team leading into next summer.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are considering going after both Dragic and Bledsoe if they make it to the free agent market next summer, as the team will have more money to spend with some contracts off the books, namely Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin. The Lakers were planning on making a hard run at Kevin Love. But obviously that is out the window now that he has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Lakers also reportedly may look at Rajon Rondo, as he is set to be a free agent after this season if he doesn't sign an extension, while Rubio is also heading towards his time soon. Rubio is in line to get an extension and that could get tough with the Timberwolves depending on what he asks for, while the Lakers also may look at Dragic as a better option than Rondo and Rubio, as they could sign him and other players since he will likely cost less. Either way, the Lakers are planning on making some major moves next summer no matter who is on the market.
Bledsoe and the Suns have been working on a deal, but so far no contract has been worked out with the restricted free agent. Bledsoe and the Suns have explored trade options, but at this point no deal is close to happening. Bledsoe has been asking for a five year max deal, while the Suns have offered a four year deal and that could keep the two sides from agreeing, as the money is not even close. Bledsoe is asking for $80 million, while the Suns have offered $48 million.
The website also reports that Dragic is planning on hitting the free agent market and then signing back with the Suns, but things could change by the time all that happens. The Lakers plan on making a run at Dragic and they could convince him to sign with them over the Suns, but that obviously will take time to see how it all plays out.
Rondo has long been considered a target and the Celtics may look at trading him, but not likely until the trading deadline this year. Rondo likely will not sign an extension with a team, as he is looking to make the max amount of money as a free agent on the market. The Celtics want to see if Rondo can stay healthy for a full year after tearing his ACL and anyone interested likely wants the same. The Lakers have options and if they set themselves up right, they could end up signing multiple top name free agents next summer.