Lakers Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on Dion Waiters, Rajon Rondo and More

As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers haven't been the most active team in free agency so far.

Magic Johnson and the front office clearly aren't afraid to fall back and plan for the future now, one built around Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, not to mention the idea a major name such as Paul George might be willing to come to town in 2018 or shortly after.

This hasn't stopped all rumblings around the franchise, of course. The front office apparently flirted with the idea of Andre Iguodala, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Otherwise, the rumors market has been rather timid while the market waits for dominoes to fall into place.

Here's a look at the latest.

Nick Young's Market

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

After an odd few years with the Lakers, fans might have a hard time thinking Nick Young would have a major market.

Alas, here we are. TNT's David Aldridge reported the New Orleans Pelicans will have an interest. Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News noted the Oklahoma City Thunder might enter the fray.

Most notably? The Golden State Warriors, according to Wojnarowski:

For most 32-year-old free agents, the defending champions coming calling is a big deal—one looking like a potential dynasty even more so.

Young had a nice bounce-back campaign with the Lakers a season ago, averaging 13.2 points per game on 43.0 percent shooting while bumping his conversion rate from three-point range to 40.4 percent.

Still, Young's relationship with the Lakers seems like it has run its course. The team has a youth-minded movement in place, and while Young might be a candidate for a one-year deal with an option for another tacked on to it, the market looks like it will push him to more attractive situations.

The Dion Waiters Development

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Dion Waiters was one of last year's biggest breakout stars.

The No. 4 pick in the 2012 draft exploded over the course of his first season with the Miami Heat and is all of 25 years old, so it makes sense the Lakers might want to let him run with the current young depth chart and see what happens.

Over 46 games, Waiters averaged 15.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 42.4 percent from the floor. At the least, the breakout has made the shooting guard one of the market's most interesting names.

Count the Lakers as involved in the sweepstakes, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders:

Like Young, though, the Lakers might not have an easy time winning out, given the market. Not only do a handful of teams figure to be interested in Waiters, he sounds like a guy who might give the Heat a hometown discount after they helped him break out.

"It depends," Waiters said, according to the Palm Beach Post's Anthony Chiang. "Yeah, I would, though. But, like I said, it depends, just being the right thing, at the right time. It's just got to be right. It's got to be equal."

The Lakers might have a hard time combating such a situation, though touting a pairing with Ball and Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt isn't such a terrible selling point. But again, convincing Waiters this is better than an unknown destination or Miami after a potential big splash is no easy feat.

At a minimum, Magic and the Lakers having an interest here speaks to the front office's willingness to stick to the current plan. Waiters would be a boon in this regard, as the team's speculated big targets in 2018 are forwards like Paul George, anyway.

Seeking a Veteran Point

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Perhaps the only exception to this youth-based approach right now is at point guard, where the Lakers presumably wouldn't mind bringing on a veteran to help guide Ball in the right direction. 

It'd explain potential interest in a name like Rajon Rondo.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com provided the report:

Rondo, 31, doesn't have the greatest public image in large part because he's been with three different teams lately, and last year with the Chicago Bulls, he seemed at odds with the coaching staff until the playoffs.

However, Rondo almost led the Bulls to an upset of the top-seeded Boston Celtics before injuring his thumb. The reviews have been nothing short of glowing since, and the on-paper outlook isn't terrible considering he posted 7.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game in 26.7 minutes.

As of now, the Lakers don't have a veteran like Rondo to help Ball, and the interest here shows it's something they'd like. The market, though, might make this hard on the Lakers—especially with teams such as the New York Knicks reaching out to him, according to ESPN.com's Ian Begley.

Notice a theme? The Lakers aren't hiding who and what they want when it comes to roster-building this offseason. Whether they get it seems up in the air, but at the least, the organization and fans rightfully have to feel like this is the beginning of the end when it comes to being unable to win big on the market.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.