The Lakers need to regroup in the off-season, here are some options for the Lakers to look at:
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a brutal season and are officially unofficially tanking. There are a few talented players out there the Lakers can target.
In order for the Lakers to contend, Kobe Bryant must be healthy from day one. The Lakers can start by re-signing Nick Young (16.8 points), who has played at a higher level than expected. Young signed a 2-year deal with a player option but should opt out of his second year and re-sign for two years in the range of $10 million. Before fighting injuries, Young was considered the top candidate for sixth man of the year.
Kent Bazemore is also an intriguing option that will likely come at a cheap cost. Bazemore will bring intensity on defense as he is athletic and lengthy. Bazemore has also shown that he can score, when given minutes as he is averaging 13.4 points in 14 games as a Laker. The only current Lakers under contract other than Bryant are Robert Sacre and Steve Nash. The big question is if they will amnesty Nash and sign Jordan Farmar and/or Kendall Marshall?
The Lakers free agency moves can be determined by what they draft with what will likely be a top five pick. If the Lakers choose to draft Dante Exum, who will likely play the point guard, they will likely keep Nash to mentor him and show him the ropes. If they don’t draft Exum it’s likely that they got a player at another position as there is no point guard that is seen as a day one starter in the draft.
1.) Kevin Love - There are rumors that Love, who played his collegiate basketball at UCLA would love to play in LA. The Lakers, Love’s first choice, “have the best shot” of landing the Southern California native, one person familiar with the player’s thinking said.
The only problem with Love is that he is a free agent in 2015. The Lakers can use their draft pick and a sign and trade with Pau Gasol for a player like Love and another Timberwolves player.
2.) Carmelo Anthony- It has been rumored that Bryant’s close buddy will sign with the Lakers in the off-season for quite a while. Anthony will instantly fill one of the various holes the Lakers have at small forward. The Lakers can also start Anthony at power, with Bryant at small forward.
3.) Eric Bledsoe- Young, athletic, and talented are all words that describe Bledsoe. Bledsoe is having a career year for the surging Phoenix Suns averaging 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. Bledsoe is not only a talented offensive player, but he can cover a problem the Lakers have had the last decade and that’s guarding the opposing point guards.
If the Lakers sign a combination of two of these players with a top draft prospect they will begin winning from day one. Love, Bledsoe, and Anthony are all special talents that the Lakers will need to pursue.
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