Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Roundup of Top Trade Targets, NBA Free Agents

The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to a multitude of names in both the free agent and trade markets, and it's clear that the team needs to make a move in an effort to be competitive moving forward.

With the club's most glaring need at the point guard position, the Lakers will almost certainly look to add at least one player who could help serve in the role after last season's combination of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake failed to produce in the necessary manner.

Although point guard may be the most glaring need, the Lakers' frontcourt depth behind Lamar Odom off the bench is absolutely laughable, and should the team suffer an injury to either Odom, Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol, it would make the team's most obvious competitive advantage over the opposition disintegrate into thin air.

The team is going to have to shop in the bargain bin with all of the outstanding financial commitments, but that doesn't mean the Lakers can't improve the roster.

Tracy McGrady, G/F, Free Agent

When McGrady tweeted out this picture with a simple caption of "Yes or No," it set the Internet ablaze with rumors that he might be interested in joining the Lakers.

Despite his attempt to deny the interest, there has been speculation for several years that McGrady would like to play with Kobe Bryant, and he'd have the chance to do exactly that in Los Angeles.

After proving that he can still very much contribute following a successful stint with the Detroit Pistons, McGrady could instantly provide a spark to a second unit that looked rather uninspired throughout 2010-11.

There is going to be hesitancy to commit to him beyond a single season because of his past injury woes, and McGrady represents exactly the type of gamble necessary for a team that can't spend big.

J.J. Barea, PG, Free Agent

Barea quickly emerged as a fan favorite in Dallas during the Mavericks' magical postseason run that resulted in the team winning the NBA Finals.

Although he's said that he'd like to return to the Mavericks, he didn't brush off the possibility of continuing his career with a new team if he couldn't hammer out an agreement in Dallas.

Along with both Miami and New York, Barea lists the Lakers as a distinct possibility for his next potential landing spot, but he's likely to command a multi-year deal at a solid salary following his breakout campaign.

It's possible, but not anywhere near probable, that Barea joins the Lakers.

Leon Powe, PF, Free Agent

Some fans might cringe at the possibility of a former Celtic in Leon Powe potentially being added to the fold, but the Lakers need front-line depth in a big way.

Prior to signing with Memphis last season, Powe was mentioned as a potential addition for Los Angeles, and his name definitely still fits into the picture going forward.

Assuming his knee checks out and he's healthy, Powe would be a great man off the bench for the team as a high-energy guy who knows how to get to the foul line, and his style of play is precisely the type of injection of energy the Lakers could sorely use.

Kirk Hinrich, PG, Trade

Hinrich's name has been mentioned in the same sentence as the Lakers before this season, and it would be interesting to see what he'd be capable of doing in the same backcourt as Kobe Bryant.

Before he was dealt to Atlanta last season, the Lakers discussed the possibility of adding Hinrich, but it's hard to imagine that he's off the market completely given his $8 million expiring contract in Atlanta.

Given the breakout postseason play from Jeff Teague last season, the Hawks should be willing to explore what assets the team could receive in a trade for Hinrich, and the Lakers would be wise to continue pursuit of the veteran point guard.

Anderson Varejao, PF/C, Trade

New head coach Mike Brown is familiar with Anderson Varejao from their days in Cleveland together, and he's someone that could really bolster the (lack of) depth at the big man position in Los Angeles.

It's going to be difficult to pursue a trade for Varejao given the absurd length and money owed to him on the rest of his current deal, but the Lakers could swap a bad contract or two in a package in an effort to land him.

Fox Sports Ohio first introduced the idea of Varejao to Los Angeles as one that would please Brown, and although Varejao is coming off a devastating ankle injury that ended his 2010-11 campaign early, he should be firing on all cylinders after rehabbing the injury well into the summer.

Jose Calderon, PG, Trade

Calderon is yet another point guard who could serve as a solution to the problems at the position, and it seems he may have worn out his welcome in Toronto.

With the Raptors struggling badly last season and Jerryd Bayless deserving a chance for increased playing time, the team could very well decide to move on from the veteran, who is owed upwards of $20 million over the next two seasons.

He had previously said that playing for the Celtics or Lakers would be an appealing opportunity, but with Boston firmly committed to Rajon Rondo both now and into the future, perhaps the Lakers could see if the Raptors would be willing to take entertain a package from the team and turn the page from Calderon.

Ramon Sessions, PG, Trade

Sessions is a player who is constantly undervalued regardless of what team he is playing with, and he's someone that produces regularly when given the opportunity.

Now buried on Cleveland's bench behind Baron Davis and Kyrie Irving, Sessions will definitely be on the trade block, and the Lakers were among several teams inquiring about his availability prior to the draft.

He's got one guaranteed season and then a player option left on his remaining deal, but at a combined value of under $10 million, it's certainly a reasonable risk worth taking for a team that really needs to be creative in its pursuit to upgrade the position.

Mickael Pietrus, G/F, Trade

Pietrus fell out of favor late in the season in Phoenix, but that certainly doesn't mean he's unable to provide value to a team that's ready to utilize his skills.

He'd be an immediate upgrade in Los Angeles' second unit, and his ability to stretch the floor with a reliable three-point jumper is an element of the attack that was simply missing last season for the Lakers.

Pietrus made some waves when he said early in the summer that Kobe Bryant wants him to join the Lakers, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him wind up in purple and gold, as his $5.3 million salary will certainly be appealing for Los Angeles.

Free Agent Speculation: Delonte West, PG

Delonte West could very well return to Boston, but should the Celtics decide to fill the backup point guard role with Avery Bradley, West could serve the Lakers well on a one-year deal.

After Steve Blake flopped as a backup point guard for the Lakers in his first season with the team, West could be welcomed into the fold as a swing reserve capable of playing both guard spots.

He wouldn't come with a lucrative price tag, and that's exactly the type of target the Lakers are going to have to pursue.

Free Agent Speculation: Kurt Thomas, PF/C

The oldest player in the league has proven that he's still productive after spending last season in Chicago, and he'd be able to come in and provide the Lakers with quality minutes off the bench.

After Los Angeles relied on a combination of Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith, who did absolutely nothing for the team, it's time to bring aboard a backup big man actually capable of contributing to the rotation on a nightly basis.

With an injury-prone Andrew Bynum in the middle and Pau Gasol having dealt with some injuries of his own, the Lakers need a reasonable insurance policy along the front line.

Free Agent Speculation: T.J. Ford, PG

Ford has been a popular name for the Lakers to target and has been suggested as a very logical fit, and at just 28 years old, his veteran leadership could really help to stabilize production from the point guard spot.

Despite being exiled on Indiana's bench behind other options at the point guard position, Ford can still contribute to a team if given the opportunity, and there's little reason to think he's incapable of playing around 20 minutes per game.

He's likely going to have to settle for a one-year deal, as he'll be looking to prove his stock around the league once again, and that's the type of gamble that could be beneficial for both he and the Lakers.

Free Agent Speculation: Earl Watson, PG

Watson had no trouble assuming a starting role for Utah when his number was called last season, and the UCLA product posted 8.5 points and 6.2 assists per contest in 13 games as a member of the starting five.

A veteran of the game as a second-round selection back in 2001, Watson has been solid in his career as a reliable backup point guard and has produced when his number has been called upon.

The Lakers are going to be running a very different offense from previous seasons, and Watson could help facilitate that changeover should the club consider him worth pursuit.

Trade Target Speculation: Randy Foye, SG

Foye has a $4.3 million expiring contract, and his ability to score would really boost a second unit that got little offensive production. More importantly, he'd provide adequate insurance for Kobe Bryant, who is coming off another knee surgery.

Shannon Brown opted out of his contract, and he'll likely be in search of a greater contract than the team is willing to offer, leaving a hole at the backup 2-guard spot that Foye could fill rather nicely.

He showed last season that he could still score when he filled in for an injured Eric Gordon down the stretch, and the Lakers could really benefit from his presence in a group that struggled to produce offensively.

Trade Target Speculation: Marreese Speights, PF/C

Speights has been a name I'd advocated for the Lakers to pursue for quite some time, and he'd be an excellent candidate for a trade after spending last season in Doug Collins' doghouse.

As mentioned previously, the Lakers are hurting dearly for a reserve big man that the team can actually rely on to produce, and with Gasol and Odom on the roster to mentor Speights, it could be a move that really benefits his development.

There's a reason that Speights was a first-round selection, and there's simply too much talent in his game to write him off this early in his career.

Trade Target Speculation: Jodie Meeks, SG

Meeks served as the starting shooting guard for a stretch of time in Philadelphia last season, and his ability to space the floor with a dynamic three-point shot would fit well in Los Angeles' second unit.

The Sixers have a surplus of talent on the wing, and if the team retains Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia will have to be creative in an effort to get Evan Turner on the floor, and that could very well come at the expense of Meeks' playing time.

It's unclear if the team would be willing to part with him, but it'd be something worth investigating for the Lakers, a team that has to upgrade its production from the second unit.