The LA Lakers are planning to go all-in this summer on free agents and potential trade deals, as the team is interested in signing Goran Dragic and they will also likely target Kevin Love, Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol, Rajon Rondo and LaMarcus Aldridge if they make it to the market and this comes as Jeremy Lin likely will be traded as the team tries to build the future for Kobe Bryant.
Dragic has become the top target on the trade market this season, as he has informed the Suns that he will not be signing a contract extension with the team this summer. That has caused a number of teams to look at Dragic as a trade target, including the Lakers, Miami Heat and NY Knicks. According to ESPN.com, the Suns are taking offers on Dragic and the Celtics, Lakers, Kings and Miami Heat are reportedly interested in making a move.
Marc Stein at ESPN reports that the Lakers will make an offer for the Suns to trade Dragic and if that doesn't happen, the team still plans on chasing him in free agency. Dragic has a player option for next season and no one in the NBA is expecting him to pick that up. Dragic is in line for a major pay raise, as he is one of the top guards in the league and could command a max contract. According to Stein, the Lakers are planning to try and trade for Dragic and this summer they will offer him a contract worth $80 million over four years.
The Lakers have Dragic as their main target over Rondo, as there is a good chance he stays with the Mavericks after being traded to the team. The Lakers originally planned on targeting Rondo and Kevin Love in the summer of 2015, but both players have been traded from their teams over the past year. Love has repeatedly said that he is not looking to leave Cleveland, but there is chance he opts out and if that happens, the Lakers surely will try and target him.
The Cavs may have a successful run this season, but that may not stop Love from eventually hitting the market. If that happens, expect the Lakers to use their projected cap space to make a deal work. The Lakers also may target Greg Monroe on the market this summer, as both Love and Marc Gasol could remain with their current teams. The Lakers have long coveted Gasol and while he will be a free agent and is expected to listen to offers, most people in the NBA do not see him leaving the Grizzlies.
The same goes for LaMarcus Aldridge, who is expected to be a target for both the Lakers and the Knicks on the market. While those teams are planning to go after him, most scouts and people in the NBA think that he will remain in Portland. If that happens, expect the Lakers to go hard after Monroe and Dragic, as those two players are young and could help with the fact turnaround the team wants for Kobe Bryant next year. The Lakers are heading towards the lottery and will look at adding Jahlil Okafor number one if they win out the top pick.
