The sixteen-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers hope to turn their fortunes around as they look on signing an All-Star caliber player this offseason.
The LA Lakers last made the playoffs five years ago under the tutelage of head coach Mike Brown. It finished the 2012-2013 NBA season with a 45-37 before eventually losing in the opening round of the playoffs.
LA Lakers To Sign All-Star Player
ESPN's Kevin Pelton believes that the LA Lakers can build a super team of their own this season by signing forwards Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, and Paul George. While he thinks that signing James and George would be easy for the LA Lakers, Pelton said that getting the services of Leonard would be tricky since he's still under contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
"Adding Leonard to the mix makes the math trickier -- even before we account for the fact that he's still under contract with the San Antonio Spurs who would have to sign off on a trade," Pelton explained.
Leonard missed the most part of the 2018 NBA season due to an apparent right quadriceps injury. The former NBA Finals Most Valuable Player appeared in just nine games this season averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
Pelton added that for the acquisition to work, Leonard must request a trade from the Spurs management. He predicted that if any trade is imminent, it is expected that the LA Lakers might deal either Lonzo Ball or Brandon Ingram. Leonard and the Spurs are set to meet the soonest possible time to discuss the former's future with the organization.
LeBron James, Paul George To LA Lakers
On the other hand, both James and George are unrestricted free agents, which means they can sign with any team they want. George who suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season averaged 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The Thunder eventually lost in the opening round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz.
As for James, teaming up with George and Leonard would surely give him the offensive support he needs during the playoffs. In this year's playoffs alone, James averaged 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 9.0 assists.
Jeanie Buss, LA Lakers owner, sent a tweet on Thursday pertaining their odds on the James' sweepstakes. According to Bovada, the Lakers are the favorite to land James with a 7/4 odds.
"Do not ever underestimate... Nothing else to say," Buss tweeted.
Other teams that are in the hunt for James include the Philadelphia 76ers with an 11/5 odds. The 76ers are followed by the Houston Rockets 5/2, Cleveland Cavaliers 5/1, and the Spurs 8/1.
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