The Los Angeles Lakers are having one of the worst seasons in franchise history and are expected to make moves in the offseason in the hope of becoming playoff contenders again next season.
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Lakers are expected to go after big-name free agents in the offseason. Sources indicated that current Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo and Miami Heat playmaker Goran Dragic are on top of their list of targets in free agency.
With the retirement of Kobe Bryant looming, Deveney pointed out that the Lakers will have a tough decision to make in the offseason. They could just wait for more big-name free agents in 2016, but Bryant might be playing in his final year next season, which might force them to make big moves this summer to give Bryant a decent exit.
If the Lakers decide to go on a win-now mode next season for Bryant, they are expected to offer lucrative deals to Rondo and Dragic, who are two of the big-name free agents in the offseason.
But if they wait for 2016 and just focus on developing their young players this season, they will have the opportunity to go after superstars like Kevin Love and Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016.
However, most NBA analysts are still unsure if the Lakers will manage to convince superstars to move to Los Angeles, considering how the team struggled over the past two seasons. Last season, the Lakers also missed the playoffs for the first since 2004-05 season after finishing with a measly 27-55 record.
But when asked about their chances of acquiring superstar free agents this summer or in 2016, Lakers coach Byron Scott said in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Daily News that the Lakers remain desirable destination based on what he has been hearing from other players this season.
"You have a lot of free agents out there who would love to play for us," Scott said. "They've been making it pretty clear. You have guys during the games come by the bench saying, 'Hey Coach, I would love to be in L.A. next year.' That makes you feel good there are players out there that want to be here."
Aside from free agency, the Lakers could also strengthen their roster in the upcoming draft. They have the fourth-worst record in the league, but could lose their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers if it falls outside of the first five selections. They also have the first-round pick of the Rockets this year.
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