The LA Lakers could be an active team at the trading deadline this year, as reports have Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson and Isaiah Thomas as potential targets and this comes as Jeremy Lin or Jordan Hill could be traded to contending teams over the next couple days and if Los Angeles doesn't pull any deals off, Dragic will be their main option in free agency.
Kobe Bryant is out for the season and the Lakers are focused on the summer as they try and turn things around. The team is headed towards the draft lottery and they will be able to add another young prospect after taking Julius Randle last year. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are interested in trading for Dragic at the deadline and they are planning to offer him a max contract in free agency this summer. Dragic has been available for the Suns this season, but they have put a high price tag on him.
Marc Stein at ESPN.com writes that the Suns want a first round pick and a talented player in any deal and that likely is too much for most teams to part with. The Suns actually prefer to keep Dragic over trading him, but they are also worried about not being able to sign him back. The Suns have Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas on the roster and they actually think Dragic is the best, but timing made it so that he would be signed last, if at all. Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Suns are more likely to trade Thomas or Gerald Green at the deadline over Dragic.
Dragic is expected to be the top target in free agency for the Lakers, as they see him as an up and coming superstar talent and he has continued to improve each season. Dragic won most improved player last year and is leading the team in scoring and he has an option for next year that no one in the NBA expects him to pick up, as it is for $7.5 million. Stein reports that the Lakers are interested in trading for Dragic, as they want to ensure that they have a better chance to keep him in free agency. The contract could be for four years and $80 million and would be part of a big makeover for the Lakers.
The team hopes to target Marc Gasol as well, but he is very likely to stay in Memphis after having an MVP-like season. The Lakers will have a ton of cap space next summer when players like Jeremy Lin come off the books and they also could look at exploring trades while signing free agents. Lin has a huge third year number and that is why he may not end up getting traded and the Lakers are happy that his money is coming off of the cap. The Rockets reportedly are interested in bringing back Lin as a free agent this summer.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon spoke about the potential moves that the Lakers can make after debating about the Dragic trade and both expected the franchise to be very active this summer. Kornheiser mentioned numerous moves, including signing Kevin Love, trading for someone like Russell Westbrook or adding Dragic as things he could see the Lakers doing. Los Angeles knows they have a short window with Bryant still playing at a high level and that will likely get the team moving this summer.
