An important offseason looms ahead for the Los Angeles Lakers. With the fourth worst record in the league, the Lakers hope to hold on to their top-five pick in aspiration that whomever they choose will help lead the franchise back to the promised land. After the NBA Draft, free agency will be next for the Lakers.
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One free agent the Lakers could be interested in isKevin Lovefrom the Cleveland Cavaliers. The L.A. native currently has a player option and seems to be open to the idea of opting out of his final year.
Adding pieces to the puzzle may turn heads next year
According to Steve Kyler from Basketball Insiders, Love would be interested in speaking with the Lakers if they come knocking:
“So real money, let’s peg the Lakers at $22.1 million to play with, that’s enough for one serious max contract to an established veteran like Monroe, Rondo or Love – and all three are said to be willing to meet with the Lakers this summer”.
All signs point to Love opting out of his current deal. He recently stated that he and LeBron are not the best of friends, he chose his former UCLA teammateRussell Westbrookfor MVP, and even though he seems content with sitting out the last quarter of close games, this situation does not seem to please him.
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Love is averaging 16.5 points and 10.1 rebounds, both career lows since his sophomore and rookie seasons, respectively. The player who last season averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds with the Minnesota Timberwolves has now become a third option on a team that includesLeBron JamesandKyrie Irving.
Love is 26 years old and entering the prime of his career but is he worth a max-contract? If the Lakers were to offer him the maximum, they would potentially hurt themselves as they will not have the tools to bring in talented youth, and would have to result to giving the veteran’s minimum to players they would want to sign.
Lake Show Life
Love would be better off picking up his player option and play out the year in hopes of earning a more lucrative contract in the 2016 offseason, when the NBA salary-cap is set to increase to $88.8 million, per Business Insider.
Regarding the Lakers, they would be better off targeting a point guard that can run the show in Laker Land.Kobe Bryantcontinues to aggressively recruitRajon Rondoand won’t stop until the former Celtic signs an extension with the Dallas Mavericks:
“No way. I’m not done. I’m not stopping until he signs an extension”.
Even though Rondo is not a great shooter, he is a great floor general as he averages 8.3 assists for his career. His pass-first mentality and playmaking abilities will take the pressure off Kobe Bryant to set up plays for his teammates.
The Lakers would also welcome Rondo’s defense as he averages 1.8 steals. Rondo would be the most dynamic point guard on the Lakers roster since they draftedMagic Johnsonin 1979.
Rondo called it a compliment to know that a player of Bryant’s caliber would want to play with him:
Rondo on Kobe recruiting him to Lakers: "When he speaks, it speaks volumes. It’s a compliment that he’d want to play with a guy like me."
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter)March 9, 2015
Kobe Bryant has been a fan of Rondo for a long time and would love to have the former champion as his backcourt teammate:
“You don’t want Rondo? Send him my way. I love everthing about him. Everything. I love his attitude, I love his chippiness, his edge, his intellect, his know-it-allness. All of it. That’s what makes championship players”.
A backcourt containing Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo, paired withJulius Randleand a potential top five pick would be a good platform for what will likely be Bryant’s final season.
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