The LA Lakers are coming into the offseason with a ton of cap space and they may target players like Goran Dragic, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love and Greg Monroe along with Jimmy Butler, Brandon Jennings or Reggie Jackson this offseason, as Los Angeles is looking to bounce back from a couple tough years for one more run with Kobe Bryant.
The team will once again be in the lottery and they could have a top five pick, although the Knicks arte the team looking like they will get number one. According to NBA.com information, the Lakers are projected to have over $30 million in cap space this summer and that means they could sign one or two major free agents. The team is likely to go after Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo, but they also may explore trades, as Jennings could be available along with Jose Calderon.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the team plans on prioritizing the point guard position and that could lead to the team chasing Rondo or Dragic. The team hopes that Love will be on the market, but he may not opt out of his deal with the Cavs. Jennings could be expendable after the Pistons added Reggie Jackson, while Jimmy Butler could be a restricted target from the Bulls.
Dragic reportedly sees the Lakers as a "perfect fit", but Miami will have the inside track at signing him since they can offer him a bigger deal than Los Angeles. The Lakers can offer a deal at four years and around $80 million, but Miami can go one year longer and around $100 million. The Knicks are also expected to chase after Dragic and if he stays in Miami, expect Rajon Rondo to be the player the two teams chase.
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.
Gasol is coming in after winning the defensive player of the year award in the past and he has also been on two All-Star teams including this season. The Knicks and Lakers are reportedly the top teams looking to chase Gasol with a max contract, while the Boston Celtics also could be an option, according to Pro Basketball Talk.
The Pistons traded for Reggie Jackson this season and that could lead to Brandon Jennings getting moved. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers previously have spoken with the Pistons about Jennings, including art the deadline this year. According to Marc Stein at ESPN.com, the Lakers want Kevin Love the most and while many speculate he could opt out of his deal with Cleveland this summer, Love has said there is no truth to that speculation.
