Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Reportedly Will Pursue Al Horford in Free Agency

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly keen to make a big splash in free agency this summer by pursuing four-time All-Star Al Horford. 

ESPN's Marc Stein reported the news of the Lakers' intentions to make a run at the longtime Atlanta Hawks big man on Wednesday.

Horford has been with the Hawks since they selected him third overall in the 2007 NBA draft. With the league's salary cap rising and no realistic championship chances to date in Atlanta, though, Horford is bound to explore his options.

Stein also reported the Hawks are trying to trade two first-round picks in the hopes of persuading Horford to stay put. The 30-year-old averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 blocks per game this past season.

Los Angeles represents an interesting fit for Horford, who has thrived at both the 4 and 5 positions throughout his career. If Julius Randle does indeed prove to be a Lakers franchise cornerstone, it's likely Horford would settle in at center with Randle at power forward.

The pairing of Horford and Randle is intriguing on paper, especially on the offensive end. Randle is a gifted ball-handler and a tenacious rebounder, whereas Horford has more finesse to his game and can stroke it from three-point range.

That combination would pose matchup problems for opponents, and new coach Luke Walton would likely embrace the challenge of getting the duo to coexist in L.A.'s starting five.

With the recent retirement of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, the team has a lot more cap flexibility to chase a big-name player on the open market such as Horford, who'll likely command a max contract.

Competition for Horford's services figures to be fierce, though, so Los Angeles will have to put its best foot forward coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 season.

Between Randle, last year's No. 2 overall pick D'Angelo Russell and another second overall pick arriving in Thursday's draft, the Lakers will have three young, promising pieces in place when they give their pitch to Horford. If L.A. can retain restricted free agent Jordan Clarkson, its outlook would be even better.