Having recently been linked to Jodie Meeks and C.J. Miles, the Lakers are clearly looking to add at least one more player to improve their backcourt and wing depth. Besides Meeks and Miles, the Lakers may also be targeting Leandro Barbosa. ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweets that he's hearing out of the Team Brazil camp that the Lakers have interest in the veteran combo guard.
The Lakers have expressed a reluctance over the last few weeks to use their taxpayer mid-level exception (worth $3.09MM), and managed to sign a solid rotation piece in Antawn Jamison to the veteran's minimum, when Jamison likely could've signed for more money with another club. The team is presumably hoping that Meeks, Miles, Barbosa, or another player will be open to taking a discount to play for a title contender in Los Angeles.
For his part, Barbosa is reportedly seeking a multiyear deal, and the fact that he's shown interest in the Cavaliers, the team with the most remaining cap space, suggests he's not looking to settle for a minimum-salary contract. The 29-year-old spent the 2011/12 season with the Raptors and Pacers, averaging 11.1 points in 21.6 minutes per game in 64 overall contests.
Lakers = Contenders? Aren’t they 1-8 in the last two SECOND rounds?
Even though they got destroyed by the Mavs, the OKC series could have gone either way.
Lakers = Contenders??? Aren’t they 1-8 in their last two SECOND rounds?