Williams, Odom Unlikely Fits For Lakers

The Lakers may look to make significant changes to their roster this summer, and a point guard and small forward figure to be top priorities. Don't expect to see Deron Williams or Lamar Odom wearing purple and gold next year though. Mike Bresnahan and Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times write that both players are unlikely targets for Los Angeles.

Williams is poised to be the top free agent on the market, but after they officially locked up Andrew Bynum for another season, the Lakers are already above the tax threshold for 2012/13. As Williams himself pointed out when asked about playing for the Lakers: "I know they don't have any money to just go out and sign me. It'll have to be some kind of [trade]."

The Nets are expected to make every effort to lock up Williams themselves rather than conceding to a sign-and-trade arrangement. Even if the team were to consider a trade, reports have suggested they wouldn't be interested in acquiring Pau Gasol from the Lakers.

Odom, meanwhile, figures to be released by the Mavericks later this month. Whether or not there's mutual interest between the forward and the Lakers, CBA rules make a reunion a long shot. Since Odom can't rejoin the Lakers for a year following last December's trade, he would have to miss about six weeks of the season if he wanted to sign with the club. A source tells Bresnahan and Medina that such a scenario is unlikely.

The Lakers will also only have the taxpayer mid-level exception (worth about $3MM annually) available to sign free agents. If they were to use that mid-level on another player in the offseason, the Lakers could only offer Odom the veteran's minimum in December.

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