When LeBron James signed with the Lakers last summer, anticipation began building about who the next star would be to join him in L.A. It’s a question that still hasn’t been answered.
As LeBron tries to make a run to the playoffs surrounded by a collection of young players and veterans on one-year contracts, the organization’s long-term picture remains fuzzy. The front office made a strong pitch for Pelicans star Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, but all its offers were rebuffed, and now the Lakers will have to compete with teams such as the Celtics and Knicks that might have more assets they’re willing to offer to New Orleans.
L.A. will enter the summer with enough cap room to offer a max contract, but the team may not be the front-runner for anyone in a talented free agent class. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps examined some of the elite free agents this week and found that the Lakers won’t have an easy path toward landing any of them.
The Knicks are believed to have the inside track on Kevin Durant if he decides to leave the Warriors. The Celtics remain confident they can keep Kyrie Irving, but Bontemps thinks it’s more likely that he would team up with Durant in New York than accept a reunion with James. Kawhi Leonard has indicated a desire to play in Los Angeles, but reportedly prefers a lead role with the Clippers over becoming part of LeBron’s supporting cast.
Klay Thompson will stay with the Warriors if they comes through with a max offer. Kemba Walker has strong ties to Charlotte, which can give him a supermax contract worth more than $200MM over five years. The Bucks’ Khris Middleton and the Sixers’ Tobias Harris both appear destined to stay with their current teams.
Bontemps pegs Jimmy Butler as the most likely option for the Lakers if the Sixers decide they don’t want to max out him and Butler at the same time Ben Simmons becomes eligible for an extension. The ESPN writer sees DeMarcus Cousins as another possibility if the Lakers are willing to take a risk on his long-term health so soon after a major Achilles injury.
We want to get your input on the Lakers’ future. Who do you believe will be the best player that team president Magic Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka will add this summer? Please leave your responses in the space below.
Boogie
If KD doesn’t leave, then ya.. pretty likely.
Boogie Cousins is the most likely to be a Laker whether Durant leaves or not. There’s little chance that GSW values him enough to give him a max deal.
The only other guy they’ve got a legitimate shot at is Kawhi, but if being in L.A. really is his priority, the Clippers make a whole lot more sense.
Agreed
They will over pay for someone. I don’t see Kyrie, or Durant, or whoever wanting to go there and play with GM lebron.
Hopefully they get no one
Are you referring to Melo?
No way Durrant leaves the Warriors for the Knicks LOL. If he really wants to go to New York and when he has a better chance in Brooklyn. As far as the Lakers are concerned would not be surprised if Irving signed with them and parents backed up with LeBron. Irving seems very obsessed with winning and the only time he won a championship was in Cleveland with you guessed it LeBron.
If NY trades for AD.. and signs Kyrie..then yes, KD would join them.
NY only has a chance at at if they have the first or second pick, this draft isn’t great after the first two and they obviously want a lot.
Bledsoe, Cousins
jimmy buckets to lakers, kawhi to clips, kimba to knicks, brow to celts, harris re-signs sixer, durant to knicks/celts, boogie to warriors/knicks, kyrie re-signs celts, vooch re-signs magic, melo to china
Your list grows! Kawhi to Clips, Vucevic stays are the best bets. GSW are not planning on Cousins and I hope for his sanity he does not choose the Knicks. They will send him over the top there! Knicks will make out though I think.
Honestly it’s all a bunch of speculation. It’s easier to tell which players are leaving than where they go. There is some evidence that every player you mentioned would be interested in the Lakers, especially if they could open a little more cap space and get two of them to go along with LeBron and they are close.
You must be a Laker homer because no not every player would be interested. KD comments made it clear he has no desire to play on a team with LeBron. Plus why leave Warriors to sign with Lakers to partner with LeBron? Makes no sense even if Klay leaves, Warriors still better team. Kyrie will have no desire for Lakers. Boogie won’t team with LeBron because he won’t deal with that leadership style. So maybe Jimmy and Klay are most likely where as everyone else is highly unlikely
I can see irving and davis the following year. Each year lebron can weed out the players he doesnt feel fit his style of play. I can see lonzo and kyrie playing combo with bi and james at the forward postion and re-uping on mcgee or some other big depending on funds. From the remaining assets kuzma, lonzo, hart, wagner, bonga some will be delt because they dont fit the formula. Then depending on if davis was delt or not to the lakers create space for him in 2020. You have your big 4 with ingram steadily improving each year. Kyrie, zo (if not traded) ingram, lebron, davis is a pretty good roster and gives lakers new life for the next 7/8 years.
Lakers, start with some self-scouting, then go out and find an experienced general manager.
Honestly don’t see any of them signing in LA. With the announcement of the soon to be failed spaced jam 2, it should be obvious to Lakers fans that LeBron didn’t come to LA to win championships.
Klay isn’t leaving golden State.
Only way durant leaves is if warriors suffer meltdown this year.
Irving will stay in Boston, the Celtics will give up an insane haul of players and picks to get Davis, and they are joined by Tatum. Davis probably leaves the next year for LA.
Harris stays in Philly
Butler isn’t really a max guy, but has Knicks mistake written all over him.
Not really sure about Charlotte paying walker 200 million. Could be a candidate for LA. Especially if Lonzo is traded.
Leonard goes to clippers, and embarrasses Lakers for years to come.
Middleton is anyone’s guess. Most likely a consolation prize, for the teams that don’t get one of the top tier guys. Sort of has LA or NY written on his forehead.
Cousins will stay in golden State if they win the championship. Playing one more year on the MLE. If they lose he could end up anywhere willing to pay him. Alternatively even if warriors lose, if No one offers cousins a max he could come back for another year. This is based on cousins interview in which he said almost this.
It’s not his choice. GSW is going to want someone that works with Durant, who you’re saying is a stay.
Sounds about right, although I think MJ is a sucker for Kemba and is more likely to max him out than you suggest. Middleton would be a good fit with Lakers, but Milwaukee will try to keep their core together with a growing fan base and new stadium.
I do suspect Durant’s complaining is a negotiation tactic.
Who cares who they will add. The team is a dumpster fire.