NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 targets for the Los Angeles Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans fight for position during a game on December 21, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Kemba Walker, PG (Unrestricted)

Almost immediately after news of the Anthony Davis trade broke, so too did the report that the Lakers’ top target in 2019 NBA free agency would be Kemba Walker. With Lonzo Ball being traded to the Pelicans and Rajon Rondo entering free agency again, Los Angeles has a dire need at point guard to help facilitate the offense for Davis and LeBron James but also provide their own offense out of the backcourt.

In that regard, Walker does seem like an ideal fit for L.A. Walker is coming off of the best season of his career to this point, earning Third-Team All-NBA honors for the first time in his career. The UConn product averaged 25.6 points (career high), 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on the year while shooting 43.4 percent from the floor and 35.6 percent from 3-point range.

Having said that, the report that the Lakers will heavily pursue Walker also comes soon after a report that the point guard would be willing to take less money to stay with the Charlotte Hornets. If those reports are true, it’s clear that loyalty may weigh heavily on his free agency decision, which could immediately take joining Davis and James out of the question.

While that may be so and this may be a fruitless plight for Pelinka and the brass in Los Angeles, there’s no question that Walker will be targeted and heavily pursued in free agency. And if they could pull it off, he would undeniably complete a dominant trio for the Lakers.

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