Topic: We wonder which player should be the Los Angeles Lakers’ top priority for a maximum contract in free agency this summer.
Context: The Lakers will be putting a lot of stock into free agency this off-season. After failing to bring in their big targets last summer, the Lakers are determined to not come up empty-handed for the second straight off-season. And with the number of impact free agents available, it seems like they should succeed in that goal.
That, however, brings up another problem as the Lakers won’t be able to sign everybody and will have to target particular players. Once free agency begins, the Lakers will be on the phones with a number of different players, but at the end of the day, the team only has the salary cap room for one player.
It could be a big man like Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, or LaMarcus Aldridge. Or the team may go after a wing like Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard or a point guard like Goran Dragic, but needless to say the Lakers will have to focus on someone ahead of the others. The question is who?
Verdict: We went to Twitter to ask the loyal Lakers Nation followers which player they believe should be the Lakers’ top target for a max contract in free agency? These are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation #LNDebate def go after Deandre Jordan, Aldridge or Gasol. Need a big center then draft a wing player
— Infamous (@migz15_) May 9, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation tbh I think Jimmy Butler would be an awesome addition we have a good group of PFs we need to get a SF #LNDebate
— Markus Jenkins (@TheJenbrykid) May 9, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation realistically Aldridge and gasol probably have the best chance out of the FA’s #LNDebate
— Steven Mercado (@Smerc13) May 9, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Top priority FA should be Dragic. Then Gasol, or Aldridge. #LNDebate
— John M Ward II (@JMW_InDaHouse) May 9, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Marc Gasol or Deandre Jordan
— £RiC (@MostlyRetweetz) May 9, 2015
@TheeCoreyH Kevin Love and Kawhi Leonard. Both brought up in SoCal and are the type of young talent we need. #LNDebate
— Rivas (@cgrivas13) May 9, 2015
The fans have spoken and there were plenty of names mentioned amongst Lakers Nation. Marc Gasol and Kawhi Leonard were brought up the most, and based strictly on talent it’s hard to argue. Neither of those players, however, are realistically attainable.
Leonard is someone who is quiet and doesn’t like the spotlight. The Spurs will definitely give him a max deal and he won’t leave. Gasol went to high school in Memphis and loves it there. At 30, it’s hard to see him leaving one of the best teams in the West for a team that’s in the middle of a rebuild, especially when he could get more money from Memphis.
When considering both talent and attainability, I believe Kevin Love should be the top target for the Lakers. I would prefer to see Aldridge or Butler with the Lakers next year as they are better fits, but I struggle seeing them coming to LA. Love would give the Lakers the star they need and going after him instead of someone who isn’t leaving anyway is the way to go in my opinion.
[divide]Lakers Nation 2015 NBA Draft Podcast