Lakers: 5 Top Targets in 2016 Free Agency Not Named Kevin Durant
Dec 28, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) talks to guard
(1) during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers are going to be major players in 2016 NBA free agency, but who should they target outside of Kevin Durant
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to make a play for Kevin Durant in 2016 NBA free agency. The Lakers and virtually any other team with room under the inflating salary cap next summer will be vying for the services of one of the game’s transcendent talents and they’d be foolish not to do so.
However, with how the Lakers have fared in recent free agency periods, it’s fair to say that they should go into the summer of 2016 with a contingency plan in case they don’t get Durant—especially considering that the Lakers aren’t widely considered to be among KD’s top destinations.
The Lakers will enter 2016 free agency with the opportunity to really make some noise and take substantial leaps forward. With the cap jumping to somewhere around $89 million for next season, LA will only have just over $26 million on the books. That gives them a ton of room to make signings to help the team truly rebuild in a post-Kobe Bryant era.
While landing Durant to put around the young core of D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson (assuming the Lakers re-sign Clarkson as a restricted free-agent) would be the most ideal of situations, he’s by no means the only high quality player that will be on the open market.
Subsequently, the Lakers should be ready to pursue some of the other top guys on the market. Looking at the players that will be available beyond Durant, here’s a quick look at five upper-tier players that should be on the radar of the Lakers front office.
(Note: This does not include players with an option in their contract for the 2016-17 season that could thrust them into free agency)
Next: No. 5 Noah