Jeremy Lin's stay with the Los Angeles Lakers could be for one season only, as the purple-and-gold franchise looks to make a big splash next season for incoming free-agents Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers are reportedly targeting either Dragic or Bledsoe, when the two stellar point guards become unrestricted free-agents next summer, a source close to situation reported on Thursday.
ESPN reporter Marc Stein reported that the Lakers, armed with a plenty of money to spend next year, will make their bid to sign Dragic or Bledsoe, who are considered two of the most fast-rising point guards in the NBA.
Stein stressed the huge interest in acquiring Dragic and Bledsoe stemmed from the perception that the Suns are going to hard time keeping together the two playmakers by signing them each to a lucrative max deal.
The veteran NBA insider believed the Suns might lose the two guards without getting something in return next year.
"Should Bledsoe decide to sign the qualifying offer, as appears increasingly likely if no sign-and-trade materializes, Bledsoe can't be traded without his consent for the whole season ... and would instantly set himself up to join Goran Dragic as an unrestricted free agent next summer," Stein stated in his report.
"If Bledsoe elects to go the rare qualifying offer route, Phoenix would suddenly face the very real possibility of losing both of its two best assets without compensation in 2015 free agency."
"The Lakers, for example, are just one team league sources say would likely make a hard run at both of them, based on the premise that the Suns couldn't afford the cost of paying both at that point, theoretically making either Bledsoe or Dragic gettable."
Other than the Lakers, the Houston Rockets are another team that could make another splash next year, and sources indicated general manager Daryl Morey is looking to bring back Dragic, who played for two seasons with the team.
"Sources say that Houston, furthermore, has Dragic on its list of potential targets next summer given how he's blossomed since leaving the Rockets for Phoenix in the free-agent summer of 2012."
Dragic averaged 20.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists to win the Most Improved Player Award last season, while Bledsoe also had a breakout year by averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Lin, who was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Houston Rockets this offseason, averaged 12 points and 4 dimes last season. He's expected to play major minutes either as a starter or behind veteran Steve Nash at the point guard position.
However, with the recent news about the Lakers' interest in Dragic and Bledsoe, Lin should produce the best season of his career in order for him to keep the job.
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