The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking to make a big splash next offseason, as Mitch Kupchack sets sight on two dynamic point guards (Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic) from the Phoenix Suns.
Also, rumors about the Lakers' interest in acquiring disgruntled playmaker Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics gained steam once again, so did the talks about Kevin Durant's preference when he hits the free-agency market two years from now.
Eric Bledsoe & Goran Dragic
The Lakers have been linked to Bledsoe ever since the start of the free-agency period. With the mercurial guard leaning on exercising his qualifying contract worth $3 million, the Suns face a grim possibility of losing the former Kentucky standout and reining Most Improved Player of the Year in Dragic next summer.
Dragic, who averaged 20.9 points and 5.9 assists last year, is entering the third year of his four-year, $34 million deal he signed with the Suns in 2012. The contract allows him to opt out the final year and become an unrestricted free-agent in summer of 2015. On the other hand, Bledsoe will surely hit free-agency unrestricted next year if he signs the qualifying offer..
Marc Stein of ESPN believed the Lakers and the Houston Rockets are just two of several teams expected to make a hard push for Dragic or Bledsoe.
"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."
Rajon Rondo
There's no doubt the Lakers would want to have a virtuoso playmaker like Rondo, who still came through with a strong comeback after a lengthy rehab off an ACL injury. The multiple times All-Star averaged 11.7 points, 9.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Celtics.
Last week, there are several sports website reporting on Rondo's demand to be traded out of Beantown. The Sacramento Kings have been the most aggressive suitor of the Celtics guard, but the franchise's executives decided to back out after learning that they won't re-sign Rondo next year.
According to sources, the Lakers appear to be an intriguing option for Rondo because of the amount of money the franchise could place on the table.
Kevin Durant
Durant's incoming free-agency is already one of the hottest topic in the league, even though the reigning NBA MVP won't hit the market until 2016.
The Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets are all considered potential destination for the lanky scoring machine, though several analysts believed the Lakers should have some appeal for Durant because of the opportunity waiting for him in arguably the most electrifying market in the NBA.
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