The LA Lakers are coming into the 2015 summer with tons of projected cap space and the team is hoping to make some major moves for Kobe Bryant and names like Goran Dragic, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe and Reggie Jackson could be potential targets to land in Los Angeles.
The Lakers have Bryant out for the rest of the season and they are hoping to end up in the top part of the lottery so they keep their draft pick for this year. The team knows that Bryant has just a year or two left of playing at a decent level and after another serious injury the clock could be ticking even faster. The Lakers reportedly were interested in trading for Goran Dragic at the trade deadline, but the Miami Heat made the deal with the Suns for two first round picks.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers are still going to target Dragic in the offseason and will offer him a max contract of four years and $80 million. Marc Stein at ESPN reported that the Heat will look at keeping Dragic this summer after trading for him, as they can offer an extra year and more money than anyone else on the market. The Lakers have wanted a star point guard since trying to trade for Chris Paul and with Dragic, Rajon Rondo and Reggie Jackson likely hitting the market, the team could focus on getting at least one of those players.
The Lakers will have enough cap money to sign multiple players on the market and they could go hard after Marc Gasol if he thinks about leaving Memphis. Most reports have Gasol staying with the Grizzlies, but the Lakers would love to get him back after trading him in the deal for Pau Gasol years ago. The Lakers also could chase LaMarcus Aldridge or Greg Monroe, as both of those players are also unrestricted free agents.
If Dragic remains in Miami, Rondo will be one of the top targets on the market and both the Knicks and Lakers are likely to go after him. Rondo was traded to the Mavericks this season from the Celtics, but it's unlikely he ends up staying in Dallas with how things have gone so far for him. The Mavs likely will not pay up and with the Lakers and Knicks both having a ton of cap space, they each could compete to get Rondo.
Love will be the top target if he opts out of his deal with the Cavaliers and that remains a big if for the team. Love has started to get more involved in the offense and while reports have him considering opting out, there is a good chance he finishes out his contract in Cleveland before hitting free agency. Love will be a main target for the Celtics, Lakers and Knicks if he ends up hitting the market.
The Knicks and Lakers will be in the lottery are they are hoping for the chance to draft Jahlil Okafor. Jennings could be a potential trade option, as the Pistons acquired Reggie Jackson and they likely will try sign him as a restricted free agent.
