Los Angeles Lakers: 5 free agents to target this summer

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers shakes hands with LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game at Quicken Loans Arena on December 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 121-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

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No. 3: DeMarcus Cousins

The talks on the Boogie Cousins train rolling through Los Angeles have slowed down a ton since the start of last season. The biggest reason why is because he went down with an Achilles tear that put him out for the second half of the year.

Lakers fans, in particular, have a history of knowing how much an Achilles injury can affect a player’s career. For example, Kobe Bryant had a tough recovery from his, and many other players throughout league history were a shell of themselves after going through the same injury. Yet he is still the best available big man on the free agent market and he could be a solid plan B for the Lakers to target.

Cousins would instantly be the best player on the Lakers current roster and would be in line to become the next great Laker center. The great Laker teams of all-time have always started with an All-Star big man they came to the team in free agency.

In 1968 it was Wilt Chamberlain teaming up with Jerry West, in 1975 they added perhaps the best big man ever in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and in 1996 they started a new dynasty by adding Shaquille O’Neal as their star.

Now Cousins could be the building block they need to either lure LeBron to Los Angeles, or he could help the young core get the Lakers to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

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