Soon-to-be free agent DeMarre Carroll has been the biggest star in the 2015 NBA playoffs or the Atlanta Hawks. With Carroll's stock rising at the right time, the Los Angeles Lakers now reportedly plan to pursue him when he hits free agency in July.
Carroll averaged 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in the regular season, but he's come alive in the playoffs to the tune of 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds. Moreover, this season as a whole has shown what defensive-minded forward can do in the right system. The Hawks are the fifth team the 28-year-old journeyman has played for since entering the league in 2009, but when he becomes a free agent this summer, he certainly won't have any issues finding employment and a pay raise.
"He'll find himself in an interesting spot this summer as a free agent for the second time. Carroll will be in demand and has raised his value to the point where he could triple his salary come 2015-16," Shaun Powell of NBA.com wrote Tuesday. "Interested teams must decide whether Carroll's best years are indeed ahead of him, or if he's a role player taking advantage of the Hawks' system. With the salary cap expected to jump, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks or Dallas Mavericks (among other teams) could force the Hawks' financial hand."
Atlanta likely has the inside track to re-signing Carroll, with New York likely the de facto No. 2 option. The Lakers, though, could easily finagle their way into contention for him if they're willing to shell out the money for him.
Other free agents the Lakers reportedly are eying include Tobias Harris, Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo. Los Angeles might have around $20 million in salary cap space this summer. Carroll could probably fetch a new deal worth at least $10 million annually, meaning Los Angeles would have to get creative with its roster to clear enough space to sign Carroll and a bigger-name free agent.
