To no surprise, recruiting season has started — and players are placing as many calls as general managers have through the course of the offseason, trying to see which teammates they can land.
As expected, several veterans told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype that they would take on a minimum contract to play alongside LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have less than 24 hours to land San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard in hopes to entice The King to come to La La Land, but making a deal will involve giving a lot of their young (and future) assets, which can quickly hollow out a talent-filled roster.
Article Continues BelowLos Angeles will need proven veterans that will help them win and build a core and culture that can commit to greatness from day one.
Assuming the Spurs land the likes of Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers will need added depth at the forward position, with Luol Deng not getting much run these days. L.A. is also expected to target a veteran point guard to mentor Lonzo Ball, according to Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times.
L.A. being a big market and a destination could sell itself, a much more attractive landing spot than Cleveland, for starters — and with a front office and ownership group willing to spend the money and be aggressive to equip this roster with capable pieces.