Despite the fact that opening night of the new season is still a couple of weeks away, many cannot help but look ahead to next summer's talent-packed free agent class. According to one NBA insider, the Los Angeles Lakers will be one of the most active teams next year, with the likes of Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Klay Thompson all in their sights.
Basketball analyst Bobby Marks explained his theory on ESPN's The Jump, and stated that the team's recent buyout of Luol Deng's monster contract gives the Lakers much more wiggle room next summer.
“They’re going to have $38m in cap space to go out and get a Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler or Klay Thompson,” Marks said.
Although this is not the first we've heard of this type of rumor, it has now become more credible coming from ESPN's resident Front Office Insider.
Marks went on to explain that in line with the potential coup, a lot of other pieces will have to fall in place in order for the Lakers to achieve success in their summer spree.
“The placeholders, the Michael Beasley’s of the world, the one-year players, all those guys would have to go. You then hope your young players, [Brandon] Ingram, [Kyle] Kuzma, [Lonzo] Ball, they all develop into a-line starters. Then you slide in a Jimmy Butler or maybe a Kevin Durant into the equation.”
The Lakers are not considered to be serious contenders this season. However, should Marks' projections come to fruition next summer, then surely, LeBron James and the Lakers will catapault themselves to the top of the list of favorites to lift the 2020 NBA title.
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