The LA Lakers are coming into the season with high expectations with Kobe Bryant coming back healthy and in the future, the team may look at a Rajon Rondo trade or free agent deal, while names like Greg Monroe, Ricky Rubio and Marc Gasol also could be potential targets and it's likely this season that both Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash come up in trade rumors since they are on expiring contracts.
According to ESPN.com, the Lakers are looking forward to next summer when they will have a ton of money to spend in free agency and that comes as Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin will be off the books. The team brought back a number of their free agents from last season, but most are on shorter deals apart from Nick Young and some others and that gives the team flexibility to sign big names next season. Rajon Rondo will be a main target along with Ricky Rubio, Greg Monroe and Marc Gasol.
The Lakers have the chance to spend money and the plan was always to go after Kevin Love when he became a free agent, but clearly that has been derailed. The team felt they had a very good shot at Love and now he is with the Cavaliers and that means they will have to look at other players. The team is going to have money to spend and they can look at names like LaMarcus Aldridge and Gasol as well as Rubio and Rajon Rondo. The Celtics aren't looking to trade Rondo and there is a good chance he hits the market as a free agent.
Rubio is going to be restricted, but reports have him looking to get paid and if the Wolves let him go, the Knicks and the Lakers could afford him. The Knicks may let Iman Shumpert dangle and that would allow the team to free up more space next summer and the following summer if they do not sign him to an extension. Right now the team has not had talks with Shumpert about a contract and that eventually could lead to him leaving or at least getting deals as an RFA.
The Knicks also will be going after Rondo and the Lakers could look at Monroe as an option since he is so young. The team lost Pau Gasol and with Kobe Bryant retiring soon, they need some young stars. Monroe signed a one year deal in Detroit and while he said he is open to staying with the Pistons, he likely will test free agency and should have some major interest as well.
Last season the Lakers won just 27 games and were basically terrible and while they will not be great this season, Byron Scott is in as the new head coach and he will be making the team play others tough. The Lakers were an easy team to beat last season and Scott will push them to play defense and they will be a tough out this year. The team brought back Swaggy P after Nick Young led the team in scoring and they also have Ryan Kelly, Wesley Johnson and Xavier Henry back as well. The team has a solid bench and with Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer also in for this season, the Lakers should at least be able to compete for a bottom playoff spot.
