5 Potential Stars Los Angeles Lakers Can Chase During 2015 Free Agency
Summer can't come soon enough for the Los Angeles Lakers faithful. Big changes are in store for a franchise that's produced just 13 wins in its first 47 games.
Whether the Lakers are able to sign a big-time free agent in the offseason is up for debate. And whether they make a big splash on an older, established veteran or pay top dollar for a younger star looking for a change of scenery is also open for discussion.
There are so many variables yet to be decided, and all of them would alter how the Lakers view the free-agent landscape. Assuming that Kobe Bryant is rehabilitating nicely from torn rotator cuff surgery in January and on track to return for a farewell campaign, the Lakers will likely have at least $20 million to play with on the free-agency market.
Bryant and the Lakers today find themselves in the midst of a rebuilding process that may take several seasons to solidify. They have a better chance of signing players this offseason who are upper echelon but not not necessarily in the elite class of stars such as LaMarcus Aldridge, LeBron James, Kevin Love or Marc Gasol.
Ideally, the Lakers finish the regular season as one of the league’s five worst teams. That would guarantee them a top-5 pick in the June NBA draft. That selection, in turn, could turn out to be Duke center Jahlil Okafor, the 6’11”, 270-pound freshman phenom with the NBA-ready skill set. They also have a late first-round pick (probably around 25th) acquired in the preseason trade with the Houston Rockets that brought Jeremy Lin to Los Angeles.
Add in Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle, former Missouri Tiger guard Jordan Clarkson and power forward Tarik Black, and one can begin to see a legitimate foundation with a solid future.
While the league cap space will increase modestly from $63.2 million this year to over $66 million in 2015-16, the big money awaits in 2016-17 when revenues from the huge new television contract (TNT and ESPN) kick in. Projections put the individual team cap number at over $80 million for that first year of the contract, a potential bonanza for teams like the Lakers. That is also the year of Kevin Durant's free agency.
While rehabbing, Bryant will do his part to recruit free-agent talent this summer, realizing that his playing days are numbered and this is the only way to get back to the top.
Bryant feels confident in the team's ability to acquire some solid talent this summer, telling Baxter Holmes of ESPNLA.com:
"It’s a pretty simple message: it’s the best organization in the world, [one of] best brands in the world and we win championships. That’s what we do. There will be much more that will be put onto that [message], in terms of X’s and O’s and style of play and things of that nature. There’s no place like winning in Los Angeles, man. This is the greatest brand in the world.
You’ve got to look at Mitch’s (Kupchak, General Manager) track record. He’s phenomenal at this stuff. Phenomenal. so much so that the league had to protest a trade that he made (the nixed Chris Paul deal in 2011). Think about that s--- ... What other GM could pull that off? So you’ve kind of got to lean on the track record of the front office and the decisions that they make. He makes really solid ones.
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In truth, the Lakers haven't been relevant for five years and their star player is close to the end of his road. It remains to be seen just who the team might attract in free agency when you consider they lost out last summer to signing either Carmelo Anthony or James.
Yet even though the Lakers lost out in the Chris Paul deal, had and lost Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol and came up empty last summer, they still are one of the most iconic franchises and best destinations in pro sports.
They seem certain to land one or two solid stars who are lured by the opportunity to play under the bright lights with one of the game's brightest star players.
Jimmy Butler: Chicago Bulls
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Jimmy Butler looked pretty comfortable last Thursday night at Staples Center, scoring 35 points in a double-overtime loss to the Lakers.
The strong, 6'7", 220-pound 25-year-old shooting guard is a first-time NBA All-Star and restricted free agent this summer. He is averaging 20.5 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals per game in his fourth year in the league. He leads the Bulls in scoring and minutes played (39.8).
As his head coach, Tom Thibodeau, told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune last month after a road trip loss in Atlanta:
"The guy wants to win, plays hard on every play, goes after people, makes tough plays, almost came up with that huge steal at the end (against the Hawks). That's Jimmy. Guy's having an All-Star season.
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The Bulls have expressed their desire to keep Butler in Chicago, even though he turned down an extension this past fall in order to test the market this coming summer.
Butler will earn just over $2 million this year as part of a four-year deal he signed out of college when drafted in 2011.
Thibodeau admits he didn't initially think Butler was this good, but he has been pleasantly surprised by his consistency this season. Butler has overcome a lot of odds to get to this place but isn't totally surprised that he's made it.
Per Sam Smith, NBA.com:
"I think I surprised everybody. Nobody can say they thought I’d be in the NBA coming from Tomball, thought I’d get drafted in the first round, thought I’d be a starting player on the Chicago Bulls, thought I’d be a potential All-Star. Nobody could ever call that. But I worked. I worked hard. That’s what I’ve always done. I’m surprised, but at the same time I’m not. Try to stay here, that was my thought (when I got drafted), find a way to stick in this league no matter what it may be. This is what you love to do so find a way to make it your job for a long time.
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Probability he signs with the Lakers: 20 percent
Paul Millsap: Atlanta Hawks
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Paul Millsap starred in relative obscurity during his seven seasons with the Utah Jazz. He's gotten even better as the starting power forward for the league-leading Atlanta Hawks.
The 250-pound Millsap is a load inside and pretty accurate from distance. He's converting 49 percent of his field-goal attempts this year, including 37 percent from three-point range. A complete player on both ends of the court, Milsap records an average of eight boards, three assists and two steals a night in just over 33 minutes.
The Hawks are the surprise of the NBA so far this season, and Millsap is their MVP. As Mike Bradley, columnist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, remarked this week:
"I begin with a confession: I had no idea Paul Millsap was this good. If you’d told me two summers ago that the Atlanta Hawks would be 38-8 and that Millsap would be their MVP — we can argue, but he’s my choice — I wouldn’t have known which part was more laughable.
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Millsap is earning $9.5 million this year and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He turns 30 on February 10, so age is not an issue for the Lakers and he would make a fantastic mentor for Julius Randle.
There probably will be a lot of suitors for Millsap, and the Lakers would be wise to throw their hat in the ring for this proven talent who has expanded his talents under Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer.
The former assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs always considered Millsap a very good player, but he told Bradley of the AJC: “I really didn’t know Paul could do this much.”
Probability of signing Paul Millsap: 35 percent
Draymond Green: Golden State Warriors
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Although Draymond Green will be a restricted free agent this summer, it may be difficult for the Golden State Warriors to retain him if a team like the Lakers makes him a max offer he can't refuse.
Green has gone from being a second-round (35th) pick of the Warriors in 2012 to one of their leading bench players on both offense and defense. The 6'7" small forward has significantly upped his numbers this year to 12 points in 32 minutes per game.
Green also averages eight rebounds, four assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, so he's getting it done on both ends of the court.
In other words, Green excels on all levels.
The former Michigan State standout will earn $915,000 this year and has a new agent who will make a case for a much bigger payday next season. The 24-year-old Green would make for an excellent starter or backup alongside Nick Young and a substantial upgrade over Wesley Johnson of the Lakers.
Bleacher Report's Dan Favale feels the Lakers could be among Green's suitors this summer.
"Green qualifies as talent and valuable talent at that. He fits into any offensive model as someone who passes and plays off the ball, both of which are required from anyone planning to coexist beside Bryant.
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And this assessment from ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy:
"I really think he's going to be a max player. How many guys defend, rebound, pass and make threes? That combination, you just don't see.
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Green will be gunning for big money next summer, and the Warriors may not have enough to satisfy those wishes. The big question is: Will the Lakers want to take that risk?
Probability of him signing with the Lakers: 25 percent
Greg Monroe: Detroit Pistons
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Greg Monroe will be busy this summer entertaining offers on the free-agent market.
The 6'11" power forward is having the best year of his four-year career, and it couldn't have come at a better time. He signed a qualifying, one-year offer for $5.4 million with the Detroit Pistons last September when the two sides could not reach agreement on a long-term extension.
The 24-year-old, five-year veteran has played his entire career with the Pistons and may be looking for a more stable situation. According to his agent, David Falk, Monroe's decision will be about more than just money.
"Falk also believes this just isn't about the money. It's about giving Monroe the opportunity to choose his next team, whether it's due to a coach he'd like to play for, players he'd like to play with or a city he'd like to play in.
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Still, Monroe stands to make a lot more money on his next deal. The big man is averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and two assists while playing just under 30 minutes per game.
The former first-round (seventh) pick from Georgetown is an imposing presence in the low post and quite durable, rarely missing a game over his career.
Monroe is considered a low post player, his liability being an inability to adequately cover bigs who venture out of the paint.
Since he is a back-to-the-basket player, Monroe might be a good fit with Julius Randle, since the latter plays more like a stretch. And, he could be a possible replacement for Hill, in the event the current Lakers center is traded for assets.
Probability of Monroe signing with Lakers: 15 percent (possible though not likely)
Goran Dragic: Phoenix Suns
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The last time the Lakers got themselves a point guard from the Phoenix Suns the results were less than stellar.
But that was Steve Nash, near the end of his storied career who was soon beset by a multitude of injuries that all but ended his brief stay in Los Angeles.
Goran Dragic is another story. The 28-year-old PG has a player option on his contract this summer, and he's likely to test the waters once the season is over.
The Suns have a three-headed PG monster in Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and Eric Bledsoe, who signed a long-term, five-year contract worth $70 million last September. Thomas was acquired in a trade last July with the Sacramento Kings and has a four year, $28 million deal with the Suns.
Something has to give, and it would seem that Dragic will test the waters of free agency. He's averaging 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal per game. He was even better last year with less competition at the point, averaging 20 points and six assists.
The left-handed Dragic, a tremendous penetrator who makes 51 percent of his shots, would fit very nicely into the Lakers rotation. At 28 years old, he is in his prime and would be an excellent mentor for young guards like Jordan Clarkson.
Probability of signing with Lakers: 50 percent if he opts out.
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