Lakers Rumors: Watching Portland’s Moves in the Offseason
By Scott Asai
The Lakers are in rebuild mode and management is already peering towards the off-season. Several free agent names have come up as potential signees in 2015 such as: Goran Dragic, Omer Asik, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Rajon Rondo, Greg Monroe and Paul Millsap.
But the team the Lakers should be watching is the Portland Trailblazers.
Based on salary cap restrictions, they’ll have most of their money tied up in:
– Damian Lillard (2016 Restricted)
– LaMarcus Aldridge (2015 Unrestricted)
– Nicolas Batum (2016 Unrestricted)
Therefore on the outside looking in are several players, but most notably:
Wesley Matthews ($7.2M) and Robin Lopez ($5.3M), both 2015 Unrestricted Free Agents
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Matthews would be the ideal replacement for Kobe Bryant. He’s a feisty, two-way player who is averaging 16 points on a team where he’s the 4th option. What’s most impressive about Matthews is his rising three-point percentage that hovers around 40%. Currently he stands in 2nd place for 3 pointers made this season only trailing Kyle Korver and ahead of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Lopez is a better-than-average center who’s putting up 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in limited playing time. But his presence would be felt in the middle especially with the Lakers lacking a true center. His stats aren’t anything to gush over, but for the right price he could fit nicely and clog the middle. Mitch Kupchak is a master at grabbing great value assets and Lopez could be a steal.
What’s important to note here is Matthews and Lopez aren’t the most sought after free agents in 2015. Based on the results of the 2014 Lakers’ off-season, backup plans are necessary in case Plan A doesn’t work out.
There’s nothing wrong with going after Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic, Greg Monroe, etc., but a “swing for the fences” strategy failed miserably last off season and the Lakers can’t afford to suffer through another season like the one we’re experiencing now if we strike out again.
If the Lakers plan is to be championship contenders by the 2016-17 season, what they do this offseason will either significantly increase or decrease their chances of making that a reality.
To be fair to Byron Scott, he’s gotten the team to play competitively despite injuries and lack of talent. It’s management’s responsibility to give him a roster that can compete with the best. Jim Buss promised Lakers fans they would compete for a title in 3 years and the clock is ticking.