The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a big name. Once Kobe Bryant retires the team will be filled with youth in players like D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle who will be entering their second or third years in the league. The Lakers wants star and they will have the salary cap space to get one. However, their options could be limited as certain players begin to take their names off the board.
The Los Angeles Lakers had their sights set on DeMar DeRozan. The Toronto Raptors star is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract and test free agency this upcoming summer. As a native of Los Angeles, the Lakers figured they would be a prime landing spot for the star. Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reported that the Lakers were preparing to win over DeRozan with a max contract that would earn him $25 million per season. However, DeRozan is expecting to stay with the Raptors.
The All-Star guard spoke with the media on Thursday and free agency was a hot topic of discussion. DeRozan is one of the biggest names hitting the market. However, he told ESPN's Marc Stein that it would take a lot to pull him out of Toronto.
"My whole mindset has always been this is home for me," DeRozan said, via ESPN Radio. "I never think otherwise unless it's brought up to me, or you see things, or people ask you about certain things. This has always been home to me. I took pride in putting on this Toronto Raptors jersey since I've been drafted here. And my whole goal was to get this team to the point where it is now. And I feel I've been a major key to that."
That would leave the Lakers empty handed and looking elsewhere. Will Kevin Durant be their priority? The line is getting long of teams interested in Durant. Most recently the Golden State Warriors emerged as a reported favorite. Magic Johnson told ESPN he is preparing to recruit Durant to Los Angeles come free agency while the Lakers will try to sell him on the idea of also signing Russell Westbrook in 2017. Will that be enough to lure the biggest free agent of the summer?
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that the Lakers have little chance to sign Durant this offseason noting that if the Oklahoma City Thunder do not retain the star, the Warriors will be the favorite to ink him once again leaving Los Angeles on the outside looking in.
The team will have other players they look at. Al Horford, Mike Conley and Eric Gordon could all be targets this summer. The Lakers will also have a high draft pick they can work with for trades.
