The LA Lakers have the chance to add prime free agents this summer and the team likely will target names like Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic, Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol and Reggie Jackson, while a Brandon Jennings trade also could be an option and this comes as the team is hoping that Kevin Love will be on the free agency market as well.
The Lakers have long been considered to be the big players in free agency this summer, as they have been working to clear out cap space for a couple years. The team has Kobe Bryant coming back from another injury and they would like to turn things around for him and have one last year of competing. The team reportedly checked in on Monroe, Jennings and Dragic at the trade deadline this year along with Rondo, but they opted to sit tight and wait for the summer.
Dragic was traded to the Miami Heat this season and that could affect how the Lakers play things in free agency, as Miami can offer more to Dragic on a max contract. According to the Sporting News, Sean Deveney writes that the Lakers are likely going to prioritize going after Rajon Rondo, with Dragic the second option, as the Lakers realize he could be swayed by Miami's large offer. The Mavericks are not likely to give Rondo a max deal and that means he will be available on the market.
ESPN.com reports that the Mavericks will not overpay for Rondo this summer and while they would like to keep him, the team "wouldn't be willing to get into a bidding war," says the report. The Lakers and Knicks are both going to chase Rondo and with Patrick Beverley out of the mix in Houston, expect the Rockets to also be an option for him. Rondo has not been great in Dallas and he has had some friction with the head coach and that could lead him elsewhere.
Deveney writes that the Lakers have been looking to add a major star since Dwight Howard left and that situation failed and they have looked at Rondo as the option. The team is still planning on going after Dragic, but they feel that Rondo is the better option to go after first. Dragic also could be wooed by the Knicks or the Rockets, who he used to play for. Dragic likely will stay in Miami, as they have the chance to offer him a max deal.
The Lakers want Kevin Love and they hope he opts out of his deal in Cleveland. Right now it's not looking likely, but it could be an option for Love after having some issues getting involved in things with LeBron James. The Lakers and Knicks want to chase Love and Brandon Jennings also could be a target. The Pistons traded for Reggie Jackson and if they sign him back, Jennings could be expendable.
