The Los Angeles Lakers have cap space to make more moves in free agency and names like Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe, Carlos Boozer, Jimmer Fredette, Andrew Bynum and Michael Beasley could be options after Carmelo Anthony signed to the Knicks and a potential trade for Klay Thompson involving Steve Nash did not work out this offseason with the Warriors.
The Lakers are coming in after a rough season and they have a building block with Julius Randle after taking him in the top 10 of the draft and now they can add more around him. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers can bid on Carlos Boozer after the Chicago Bulls used the amnesty clause provision on him and they also have the room to make other moves. The team missed out on Carmelo Anthony and while they would have loved to sign him, they have no problems waiting for Kevin Love in 2015.
The team has the cap space to make a deal for Eric Bledsoe or Greg Monroe as restricted free agents, but they likely will take a conservative approach to the rest of free agency. Bledsoe is likely staying with the Suns, as they love him in the backcourt with Goran Dragic and now they have Isaiah Thomas as well and Monroe likely is staying put after the Pistons said they wanted to keep him. No deals have come down yet for those two and while they remain in the mix for the Lakers, it's more likely they will stay put since they are RFAs.
The Lakers made a free agent steal and signed Ed David to a two years deal for $2 million and he will help add depth up front for the team. Pau Gasol signed with the Bulls and now Davis can help with that loss, as he averaged 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game last season and now joins Jordan Hill along with Randle as the forwards. Randle should be a great player at some point and while he has some health issues, he could be a steal as well, as he was considered to be a top three pick before ending up seventh overall.
Last season the Lakers won only 27 games and needed up in the top 10 of the draft and now they are hoping for a quick turnaround as Kobe Bryant returns from another series injury. The team was ranked 11th last season in points per game and fourth in assists, but they were just 29th in points allowed and that needs to improve if the team wants to make the playoffs. The Lakers can be an eighth seed or a low seed if Bryant returns healthy, but that is a major question, as is the health of Steve Nash.
The Lakers did not get the big fish that they wanted in free agency, but that could pay off in 2015, while the team is also looking for a new head coach. Byron Scott appears to be a solid target and Kobe has endorsed him as a head coach pick as well. The Lakers have the chance to at least improve a bit this season after winning less than 30 games and if Kobe is healthy, it easily could happen.
