The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for a big summer as free agency approaches, as the team has a number of questions to figure out, the top one being whether or not they can get Dwight Howard to sign a long term extension to stay with the team.
Howard has made it perfectly clear that he wants to test free agency and after the hardships last season with the offensive system and injuries, chances are the mentally off Howard will be leaving Los Angeles, well, at least the Lakers locker room in LA. Rumors say he could sign with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks or Atlanta Hawks, while some others have him being traded in a sign and trade deal to the Clippers.
All decisions are still a few weeks away, but so far Kobe Bryant has been adamant about wanting to keep Howard in a Lakers uniform, it's just unclear whether the team actually has a chance to sign him. If they go after him and fall short, the Lakers may decide to sit out this free agent period despite Chris Paul, a player they literally traded for already before the NBA screwed it, also being available.
What the Lakers may decide to do is sit out this free agent summer from the big names like Paul, Howard, Monta Ellis and Andre Iguodala among others, to wait for 2014, when the class is much better and more explosive with high profile players. Some of the names that will possibly be available as both restricted and unrestricted free agents: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Rudy Gay, Luol Deng, Andrew Bogut, Kyle Lowry, Danny Granger, John Wall, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and more. Obviously Pau and Kobe are Lakers, but you get the point.
The team could wait and get Bryant in on a new deal while also trying to sway some other players to come to LA. While James and wade are unlikely, James did leave the Cavaliers once and if he wins a third title he may go looking for more on the West coast. Anthony will likely be signed to an extension, but there is a chance that James Dolan doesn't get it done and he hits the market as well.
July 1, 2014 could be a big day and with names like John Wall, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe becoming restricted free agents, teams could try and sign them away, especially Wall, as he is on an awful Wizards team. George is an interesting pick as well considering he looks like he will be a superstar someday after the way he played against the Heat in the playoffs and that could lead to the Lakers making a move.
The Celtics proved that teams can have quick turnarounds by signing players and making moves and with money coming off the books and the team finally having a first round pick, next season could be the year the Lakers set up shop for the future. The Clippers could also join the show if Paul ends up leaving, but so far that looks unlikely, but it could change depending on how the Boston deal turns out.
"Certain summers are league-changing and this summer doesn't appear to be one," said Steve Kerr, a TNT analyst providing color commentary for the Eastern Conference finals, which continue Thursday. "Next summer will be interesting, especially if the three Miami guys opt out. Teams that have a lot of cap space this summer, they might not spend it."
