The Los Angeles Lakers have swung and missed on the biggest free agents of the past few years. However, with Kobe Bryant officially retired and Luke Walton signed on as head coach, the Lakers are planning on ratcheting up their efforts to land a true blue star.
Los Angeles has some solid young pieces in place with Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, but the team still lacks a franchise cornerstone. Since free agency hasn't been very fruitful for them recently, it appears as if the Lakers are now going to attack the trading block.
HBO's Bill Simmons reports that the Lakers are going to make a strong push for Indiana Pacer Paul George.
Also hearing that the Lakers want to make a BIG run at Paul George with their top-3 pick plus other stuff. (Not that they'd get him...)
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 4, 2016
However, Simmons notes the unlikelihood of such a deal coming to fruition. If L.A. does not land a top three pick in the NBA lottery later this month, then they will lose their first-rounder this year, removing a key piece of any trade package.
If they do keep their pick, it's expected that Russell would have to be included in any offer, and that still may not be enough. Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird is willing to shake things up - head coach Frank Vogel remains unsigned for next year despite posting five winning seasons in six years with the club - and it's not impossible to think that he would blow up this good-not-great team. However, George (who is from Los Angeles County) is under contract for at least two more seasons with a player option worth north of $20.7 million for the 2018-19 season. That's more than enough time to add some additional help and make another run.
L.A. reportedly offered last year's No. 2 pick, which was ultimately used to select Russell, to the Sacramento Kings in trade talks regarding DeMarcus Cousins.
The once-storied franchise has fallen on hard times recently, posting an all-time worst record of 17-65 this past season. Basketball operations chief Jim Buss put a self-imposed deadline of next spring to put the Lakers back into contention before resigning. We'll see if L.A. can make any significant moves between now and then.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
