The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be active in free agency this summer, with Goran Dragic, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo among their purported targets. Lakers guard Nick Young admitted he already spoke to Dragic about playing for the Lakers next season, and he said he planned to try to recruit other players as well.
Los Angeles will have a nice chunk of salary cap space available after this season to sign one or two big-name free agents. With only $35 million on the books in guaranteed money next season, the Lakers' have a wish-list of free agents as usual. The difference between the 2015 and 2014 free agencies, though, is the Lakers should have a better chance of landing a Goran Dragic or a Rajon Rondo as opposed to a LeBron James or a Carmelo Anthony.
For Young, he's already doing his part in terms of recruiting.
"This offseason is going to be for us. It's going to work out," Young told reporters on Monday after losing to the Phoenix Suns, via the Los Angeles Daily News. "... I told Goran Dragic on the court (Monday), 'You might be my teammate next year.' I'll talk to Marc. Me and him are cool. Kevin Love, I'll talk to him."
The league does have tampering rules that prohibit players and team personnel from trying to sway a player under contract for another team to leave that team. It's unlikely any team will file a complaint - and win - against Young, though.
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will also be active in the recruiting process, saying this week he would continue to recruit Rondo, whom Boston traded to Dallas in December.
Dragic and Rondo seem to be obtainable, Gasol appears likely to re-sign with Memphis and Love, despite saying all the right things publicly, may choose to leave Cleveland after just one season and has been previously reported as "seriously" considering the Lakers.
Free agency begins on July 1.
