This past off-season, the Los Angeles Lakers had ample cap room in hopes of signing both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Unfortunately for the franchise, LeBron returned home to the Cleveland Cavaliers while Carmelo re-signed with the New York Knicks.
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With the Lakers set to take on the Cavaliers on Thursday night, LeBron says Kobe did not recruit him during free agency this past summer according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:
LeBron James when asked if Kobe Bryant recruited him during free agency this summer: "No"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 15, 2015
During free agency, general manager Mitch Kupchak only met with LeBron’s agent and the Lakers were never able to actually meet with the four-time Most Valuable Player. With the Lakers waiting on the two superstars’ decisions, they were forced to move to Plan B which featured trading for Jeremy Lin and signing Ed Davis.
While the Lakers could not land LeBron or Carmelo this past summer, the franchise will have another opportunity to pursue big-name free agents. The Lakers are projected to have as much as $30 million in cap space as Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rajon Rondo headline this year’s free agency class.
[divide]Kobe Bryant’s Take On His Poor Shooting