Lakers: 5 Biggest 2016 Offseason Needs

Mar 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) and guard D'Angelo Russell (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) and guard D'Angelo Russell (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket during the second quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket during the second quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Make A Splash in Free Agency

Perhaps one of the biggest and most troubling storylines regarding the Lakers in recent years has been their lack of success in regards to signing big-name free agents. The most recent example would obviously be their ineffectiveness in trying to sign forward LaMarcus Aldridge last summer, but he’s just a major example of the problem in Los Angeles. 

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Not only will it take more focus on analytics and the actual basketball when the Lakers are making pitches to free agents, but it also honestly won’t hurt that Kobe Bryant is now retired. Now the team will be able to tell free agent players that they could be the cornerstone of the franchise moving forward as opposed to before when they would obviously be Option 2 behind Kobe.

While there are certainly a number of Laker fans hoping that the organization hits a grand slam in free agency by using essentially all of their massive amounts of room under the salary cap to sign multiple top free agents of this class to max deals in addition to filling out the rest of their roster. However, even that isn’t fully necessary.

The only thing vital in this regard is that the Lakers can’t completely strike out in regards to the top targets on the open market. That doesn’t even mean having to sign Kevin Durant, but they have to land a player that can be part of the foundation for the future.

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