After just 12 games into the 2014-15 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have already begun identifying their potential free-agents targets next summer. League source cited the Lakers are interested in signing Phoenix Suns' star Goran Dragic their next point guard.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported that the Lakers are expected to make a hard push for the service of Dragic, who is expected to be a restricted free-agent in the summer of 2015.
"The Lakers also figure to be a potential landing spot for Dragic, a source said - though, to be clear, the Lakers have only about $36 million committed next season with needs at just about every position, and thus are expected to pursue multiple big-name free agents," according to Deveney.
The Lakers currently have Jeremy Lin as the starting point guard, but analysts think it would be just a one-year rental for the Asian-American star, who is also playing for the final year of his contract.
Coming off a breakout performance that won him the Most Improved Player of the Year plum last season, Dragic is still producing solid numbers for the Suns at 15.3 points and 3.3 assists per game.
The Suns have expressed their desire in locking in Dragic for a multi-year contract extension. However, analysts think the five-year, $70 million commitment with Eric Bledsoe last summer would surely give the small-market franchise a hard time offering another max-deal for the Slovenian playmaker.
According to sources, the 28-year old Dragic will command no less than a max contract from at least 15 teams, including contenders and big market franchises.
The Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers are also viewed as possible suitors for Dragic, but the Lakers appear to be perfect destination for him since they posses enough cap space to sign him to a contract worth at least $15 million per year.
The Lakers are on a two-game losing streak heading into Friday's clash with the Dallas Mavericks.
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