The LA Lakers are filling out the roster for Kobe Bryant this summer and while Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe or Ray Allen would be solid free agent options, the team is more likely to sign names like Shawn Marion, Jordan Crawford, Ramon Sessions, Andray Blatche or Toure Murry and Los Angeles also may consider a Steve Nash trade later in the season, while Ricky Rubio could be a long-term target depending on what happens to Kevin Love.
According to ESPN.com, Bledsoe was a target for the Lakers, but the team wanted to ensure that they could sign players and work on their roster and giving him an offer sheet would have prevented that. The team is looking at Byron Scott as their next head coach and so far no deal is done, but Kobe has approved and that is a big deal after what happened last time with Mike D'Antoni. The Lakers have high expectations despite what happened last season and they want to start contending again.
The Lakers have made a number of moves this offseason to keep their roster intact and the resigned Ryan Kelly, Wesley Johnson, Xavier Henry and also traded for Jeremy Lin. But the team lost solid point guard Kendall Marshall after waiving him and the Bucks claimed him and that came as the Lakers hoped that he would clear waivers and they could sign him back. The Lakers drafted Julius Randle in the top ten and after he was mentioned in a proposed sign and trade with Phoenix for Eric Bledsoe, it looks like he will remain in Los Angeles.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers considered a sign and trade deal with Bledsoe from Phoenix, but the team did not make an offer. The deal like would have included a combination of Julius Randle, salary matchups and draft picks, but the Lakers opted not to make the offer. The Lakers saw Bledsoe as a potential point guard of the future and they would love to have someone to match Chris Paul and the Clippers and making it even better would be that Bledsoe is a former Clipper. The team now has Jeremy Lin to play point and that gives Nash a chance to try and get fully healed for the season as well.
The Lakers have Bryant for a couple more years and they are hoping that he can remain healthy this season after missing basically all of last year with an injury. Bryant said that he is nearly back to film strength and while the team is not a championship contender now, things could change if they are able to pull off a big trade like they have in years past.
What the Lakers are really hoping for is that Kevin Love hits the free agent market, as they have cap space in the future to sign him to a big deal. Jeremy Lin has an expiring contract and Steve Nash could be gone as well and if Love is traded or signs elsewhere, the team also has eyes on Rajon Rondo. The Celtics star has the chance to be a free agent if he doesn't sign a long term deal and right now it looks like Boston could go either way on trading him or keeping him.
