Los Angeles Lakers to pursue All-Star players

The Los Angeles Lakers tried to make a big move this summer and landed a meeting with New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony and the agent for Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward LeBron James. Of course, they didn’t land either player and instead decided to continue to collect assets and rewarded two of their own players, big man Jordan Hill and swingman Nick Young, with new contracts. They also traded for Houston Rockets’ point guard Jeremy Lin, won the amnesty claim for Chicago Bulls’ power forward Carlos Boozer and signed Memphis Grizzlies’ big man Ed Davis.

More from Los Angeles Lakers

Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders believes the Lakers will continue to stockpile assets in order to pursue elite players either through free agency or a trade.

"Down the road, they absolutely HAVE to be looking at the potential of Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016. Guys like LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol are up at the end of this year, but part of me expects each of them re-sign with their respective teams.I do realize the Lakers pursued some of the bigger names via free agency this year, but I want to remind fans that this organization traditionally does the bulk of their work through the trade market. I do think Mitch Kupchak, Jim Buss and the rest of their pitch team could land a big name free agent over the next couple years, but I think it is more likely for them to stockpile assets in order to make several trades in order to rebuild."

It does look like Aldridge and Gasol will eventually work things out to remain with the current teams but 2016 will be another huge year in free agency and much like Love this year, an unhappy star will come to the forefront and the Lakers may be able to offer the package it takes to land them.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers