The Los Angeles Lakers have a young core group of players they are looking to develop so they can take over the team next year. D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle represent the post-Kobe Bryant era for the franchise. However, they will not be enough to get the Lakers back into contention especially in the Western Conference. The Lakers will need to get one or two established stars as they begin to eye the free agent market.
According to CBSSports.com, the Lakers are showing interest in DeMar DeRozan as a potential replacement for Bryant. DeRozan is expected to opt out of his contract with the Toronto Raptors and seek a big contract with the expanding salary caps and the Lakers could capitalize. DeRozan is a California native and played his college basketball at USC which makes the Lakers believe they stand the best shot at acquiring him. DeRozan has not said anything in regards to his future like most free-agents-to-be, but Los Angeles plans on showing interest the first chance they can get.
The biggest thing for the Lakers is the development of their youth. If the group of youngsters can show they have plenty of potential to win, more free agents will flock to Los Angeles. Right now, the Raptors are more setup to win in the future. They have Kyle Lowry thriving who has been the right-hand man to DeRozan. The two are more equipped to have lasting success. The Lakers have more questions than answers. They can win DeRozan over with money as they will have salary cap space to spare.
In the short-term, the Lakers are looking to get active in the trade market. According to general manager Mitch Kupchak via SilverScreenandRoll.com, he has made some trade calls, but there is more interest in the youth on the team rather than veterans like Brandon Bass or Nick Young. He has no interest in giving up the younger players, aware that they will help build the franchise into something better.
"I think if we can develop four or five players going forward that look as if they belong in this league, with all of our financial flexibility going forward we'll be in a position to attract complimentary, or even more than complimentary, players to play with them in free agency," Kubchak said.
The Lakers would like to get a few trade deals. According to BasketballInsiders.com, Young is the biggest name the Lakers are trying to shop along with someone like Lou Williams and potentially Bass. The team is not going to be competitive this year as they send Bryant out into retirement, so trade deals are being looked at to help the future. The team will not be able to get anything of blockbuster nature if they do not throw in a younger player to sweeten a deal.