The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly have "big-time interest" in signing Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll in free agency. The Lakers also reportedly are eying a point guard - Emmanuel Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell - in the 2015 NBA draft, not a center.
Things are looking up for what will likely be Kobe Bryant's final season. Los Angeles lucked out and walked away Tuesday night with the No. 2 pick of the upcoming draft, and the team is projected to have enough salary cap space in July to make a max-level offer to one of the bigger-name free agents.
In terms of free agency, the Lakers have been linked to just about every player expected to be available. One of the soon-to-be free agents at the top of Los Angeles' list, though, reportedly is Carroll. An NBA source told Sean Deveney of Sporting News the Lakers "have big-time interest in Carroll," whom NBA.com reported last week would be a free-agent target for the Los Angeles.
Carroll, a 28-year-old journeyman currently on his fifth NBA team, carried his breakout season into the playoffs and has made his market value skyrocket. In addition to being a premier defender, Carroll is now a legitimate threat beyond the arc - his 3-pointer improved to 39.5 percent during the regular season and to 42.6 percent during the regular season - capable of spacing the floor.
Signing Caroll won't be cheap, however. The bone bruise on his knee he suffered Wednesday won't hurt his value, with one league executive believing Carroll's $2.4 million annual salary this season could increase to as high as $15 million next season. Atlanta, where Carroll has thrived under coach Mike Budenholzer, would seemingly have the inside track on re-signing Carroll - if the team is willing to pay. The Lakers' competition for Carroll also reportedly includes the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons.
Other free-agent targets for Los Angeles are believed to be Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and restricted free agents Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Although Rajon Rondo has been linked to the Lakers for some time, the latest reports indicate he's no longer Los Angeles' top choice to give a max-contract to in free agency.
Reports from Marc Berman of the New York Post and Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report, if true, further bolster the notion that the Lakers have moved on from Rondo. Although most mock drafts have Los Angeles selecting centers Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns, Berman and Ding both reported the team is looking to use the draft to add a point guard.
"There are multiple reports Lakers brass isn't locked in on either of the draft's top two projected picks, big men Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor," Berman wrote Friday. "The reports have suggested intrigue in mystery point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who played his season out of high school in China, and Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell."
Ding was more specific, saying Mudiay was "the guy" for the Lakers.
There could be truth to the two reports. While disseminating misinformation ahead of drafts isn't uncommon, the Lakers' having the second overall pick somewhat takes away the need for them to use pre-draft smokescreens. And, as mentioned, it fits with the previous indications that Los Angeles no longer believes Rondo is worth a max-level contract, something which the mercurial veteran will certainly seek in the offseason. Los Angeles needs a 1-guard, but the free-agent market for that position will be sparse. If Los Angeles doesn't believe Rondo will sign for a less-than-the-max deal, then picking up a franchise-caliber point guard through the draft makes the most sense - especially given the number of big men expected to be available in July.
