The LA Lakers missed out on the Rajon Rondo trade to the Dallas Mavericks and now they may target names like Brandon Jennings, Goran Dragic, Josh Smith, Greg Monroe or Jeff Green if they trade Steve Nash or Jeremy Lin in the coming months, as Kobe Bryant needs some support if Los Angeles wants to build a winner and while Rondo may be a future free agent target, right now he is off the table.
The Lakers offered Steve Nash and draft picks to the Celtics to try and get a Rondo deal done, but the team opted to trade with the Mavericks. The move with Nash would have given the Celtics some salary cap relief and now they have done that while also adding picks from Dallas. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers were involved in talks with the Celtics and if Rondo doesn't sign an extension, the team plans on targeting him hard over the summer in free agency.
According to Marc Stein at ESPN.com, the Lakers are expected to target Marc Gasol, Greg Monroe and Goran Dragic over the summer and depending on how things go, they could look at trades as well. Names like Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash all could be moved for the Lakers and that would help clear space heading into next summer. Dragic has been considered a target and RealGM reports that he will be interested in the Rockets and the Lakers next summer.
The Rondo trade puts the Rockets in the mix for any point guards along with the Lakers and Knicks, with Deron Williams and Brandon Jennings potential options. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Pistons want to move Jennings and Josh Smith and the Lakers could be a fit if they pull the trigger on making a deal. The moves could happen in the offseason and the Rockets could also be an option for Jennings or Greg Monroe, who has said that he plans on waiting and hitting free agency rather than going for a trade deal.
The LA Lakers now have Byron Scott as head coach for Kobe Bryant and while the team has been terrible, they feel like they have the chance to turn it around with some major additions. The free agent market next summer should have some solid names and if Rondo is there the Lakers will be going after him. The Lakers are having a very tough season and heading into the summer of 2015, Los Angeles is expected to target Goran Dragic, Marc Gasol, Greg Monroe and LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency to turn things around with Kobe and at the deadline this year they may look at trades involving Jeremy Lin or Carlos Boozer at the deadline.
The Lakers are just 8-17 this season and they have a long way to go no matter who they try and add. The Mavericks pulled off the move with Rondo because they are motivated to make a championship run this season and now they have a top point guard in their top ranked offense. The team moved a number of players and draft picks to get it done, including a first round pick in the future. The Lakers are hoping for a high lottery pick this season and at least one major free agent acquisition next summer.
