The current roster for the Los Angeles Lakers does not exactly scream contender. After losing a good portion of their players to free agency, the Lakers missed out on LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in free agency. The team was hoping to make a splash this year in order to help out Kobe Bryant in his last two years. However, they settled for Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin instead. With free agency in full swing, can the Lakers pull off another signing before it is too late?
According to the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Lakers are considering making a move for Eric Bledsoe, but will have to get creative to make the deal work. Yes, the Lakers already have Jeremy Lin and his $14 million contract for next season after making a trade with the Houston Rockets. That means if Bledsoe is a player Los Angeles really wants, Steve Nash must be sent away.
The Lakers were showing interest in Bledsoe early in free agency, but the Phoenix Suns remains adamant that they were going to be able to re-sign the point guard. However, those things have not gone as planned as NFL.com is reporting negotiations between the two sides have soured and now Phoenix might be preparing to move on. Bledsoe will not come cheap, again forced the Lakers into some creativity.
The Suns acquired Isaiah Thomas in free agency, meaning they do not have to overspend for Bledsoe, but can instead try and demand a nice return for the point guard. According to Phoenix's postgame radio host, Jon Bloom, the Lakers would be very interested in some kind of trade or sign-and-trade deal for him. It would cost Los Angeles a lot to make a trade which could include young assets, a first-round draft pick and a player like Jordan Hill. The deal might not be worth it.
The Lakers would love to take on Bledsoe is the move presented itself. Los Angeles has been trying to move on from Nash in a way that does not include releasing him. Considering how little the veteran has played over the past two seasons, he can no longer be counted on. Unwilling to simply retire, the Lakers continue to push a trade with little to no interest coming. Getting Bledsoe would be an immediate upgrade. Lin could come off the bench and the Lakers would have a nice point guard tandem to work with. The deal is unlikely, but expect the Lakers to at least make an initial move towards it.
