A free agent and trade target classed headlined by LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony will be the highlight of the NBA offseason, and the Lakers will have plenty of money to spend
It’s been no secret in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2013-14 season – this wasn’t the year to add a Purple & Gold championship banner to the rafters at Staples Center (but maybe a Clippers one?), but the 2014 NBA offseason promises to be filled with blockbuster headlines involving LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and even Kevin Love.
The Lakers will be in the heart of the matter, and here are some potential targets, in order of probability:
5. Lebron James – While actually landing “The King” is a long shot for the Lakers, the possibility alone is worth making the list. James is the best talent currently in the NBA and anytime a player of that caliber is on the market, an attempt to obtain his… “talents” cannot be passed up. If the Miami Heat do not win their 3rd straight NBA championship this year, the likelihood of the current roster staying intact is slim. Dwayne Wade’s body is clearly on the decline and questions around just how long he can play at a high level are surfacing. James has a players option in 2014, however is unlikely to exercise it in order to garner maximum value on his next deal.
The Lakers could offer him a max contract, which previously was always enough to bring any big name to LA. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the landscape has changed significantly, with Los Angeles no longer the premier destination. In addition, Kobe Bryant still runs this town…at least for two more years, which something that may be difficult for James’ ego to stomach. If we are being honest, this is a pipe dream and should not be given much more thought than that.
4. Darren Collison – Despite having Steve Nash signed through next year, the Lakers need a point guard in the worst way. A young talent who can thrive in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense, play up-tempo and actively distribute the ball to Kobe and whichever other marquee free agent is brought into the fold. Darren Collison could be just the right fit and far enough under the radar to actually work. The Lakers cross town rivals have cherry picked enough talent over the last few years, it’s about time to take one of their own. Collison has the court vision and ability to improve on his career average of 5 assists per and is the type of team player who would embrace the challenge. His consistently high free throw shooting ability (86%) and low turnover rate (2.2 per) fit perfectly with the Lakers future aspirations. To make the opportunity even more attractive, his current salary of less than $2 million is something the Lakers can easily stomach.
3. Greg Monroe – The Lakers have seen success in the playoffs when their roster included a dominant low post presence. The NBA has changed quite a bit since as recently as 2010, but the role of a big man is still relevant. Greg Monroe won’t put up the type of numbers Lakers fans saw from the likes of Shaq and Pau Gasol, but he fits their new system extremely well. His game is largely back to the basket, but his tremendous athletic ability allows for him to be a monster on the boards, averaging 9 rebounds per for his career. As the Lakers begin to construct a well rounded roster for their future, Monroe hits on a number of their key must haves going into 2015. Not to mention, his currently salary of $3.2 million makes him a solid fit financially as well.
2. Carmelo Anthony – Depending on who you talk to, Carmelo Anthony may or may not be a great fit for the Lakers. Bryant has repeatedly expressed his support, saying that he would, “Love to play with Melo.” For Lakers fans any desire to add the former Orangeman is tempered with caution. By the time the Lakers could sign Melo, he would effectively be on the wrong side of 30 (in the NBA that means…being 30).
Additionally, his track record of success playing with fellow superstars has been less than stellar. The Knicks have made a conscious effort to surround Anthony with talent, yet nothing has stuck. On the flip side, Carmelo is still one of the NBA’s premier scorers and is an absolutely load in the post. His dominant play down low is a major factor in Bryant’s belief that the two could mesh well together, and who can blame him. Over his career Kobe has been successful with two very different types of post players and perhaps it’s time to hit the tri-fecta.
1. Kevin Love – The beard, excellent Jenga skills, and of course – his LA privileges after playing for UCLA. Yes, Kevin Love takes Lakers fans to a happy place and at 25 years old has a lot left to give. It has been widely reported that Love feels much the same way about the Lakers as they do of him. One Eastern Conference executive even went as far to say that the Wolves should trade Love now, “Everyone knows he wants to go to the Lakers.” In fact, I bet you didn’t know that Love has actually played for the Lakers before. Granted, it was his high school team the mighty Lake Oswego Lakers, but I’m not picky. He has lived in LA, reportedly grew up watching Lakers-Celtics rivalry games on tape and is the type of community embracing player this city needs.
Unlike a Dwight Howard, Love gets LA…he truly IS LA at it’s best. As the franchise moves forward there are many factors to consider when inking the next big superstar. The personality and passion may be just as important as their on the court ability. Kevin Love is the entire package. He works for the Lakers both on the court, whether in D’Antoni’s fast pace offense or not (preferably not), while his off the court mindset is rock solid. If all else on this list fails, the Lakers should do everything in their power to bring Love back to LA.
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