The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a pivotal summer as they've cleared enough cap space to sign two players to max contracts, hoping to add two All-Stars players to their talented young core. That has been the plan since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over the front office and not landing a superstar player this summer may be viewed as a failure. As such, here are the three free agents they are the most likely to sign:
1) Paul George
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58478511/usa_today_10554874.0.jpg)
George has expressed interest in signing with the Lakers dating back to last season and is the reason why the Indiana Pacers traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer. While he has openly expressed how much he has enjoyed this year in OKC, the allure of playing in Los Angeles still has a strong pull over the SoCal native. LA will play to that and pitch him on being the face of the franchise turnaround even if they're unable to land another star player. If he leaves the Thunder, it will be for the Lakers.
2) LeBron James
LeBron is LA's No. 1 option but there's so much uncertainty around his future that I can't put him as their most likely signing. However, if he decides to leave Cleveland, the Lakers do appear to be his most likely destination. James already owns a home in Los Angeles, which is where he trains in the offseason, and his kids have also been enrolled in school there. He could also get a head start on his post-playing career in Hollywood, which also appeals to him.
3) DeMarcus Cousins
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58104837/usa_today_10476968.0.jpg)
Los Angeles was planning to make a hard run after Cousins before he ruptured his Achilles, and while that has caused the market to cool around the talented big man, the Lakers still view him as a solid backup option if they strike out on either LeBron or George. They could also get him for cheaper than the max because of the injury. However, if they're willing to gamble and give him something close to the max, they have a great chance to steal him away from New Orleans.
Stick with us in the Chat Sports app and download today. Plus, like Chat Sports on Facebook so you know when we go live with the latest NBA news!
Back to the Los Angeles Lakers Newsfeed