SAN ANTONIO,TX – NOVEMBER 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers hugs DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs at the end of the game at AT&T Center on November 03, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
UPDATE (8/3/21):
According to various reports, it seems the door is closed on the possibility of DeMar DeRozan joining the Lakers. There haven’t been any subsequent reports regarding Rudy Gay since free agency began yesterday afternoon, but there has been news regarding the Trail Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony. The New York Times’ Marc Stein reported that Anthony is weighing interest from the Lakers as well as his former team, the New York Knicks.
Another free-agent duel of interest: Carmelo Anthony is weighing interest from both the Lakers and the Knicks, league sources say.
And Golden State has joined the Lakers and Nets in the Patty Mills chase, according to @anthonyVslater
More: https://t.co/LGN9cV7Dif https://t.co/lBUWdUmeMs
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 3, 2021
Original story:
The Los Angeles Lakers are making sure their year doesn’t end like this past season. The first domino was the current deal for Russell Westbrook on draft day. Now they are looking towards free agency. The frenzy begins on August 2nd at 6 PM EST/3 PM PST.
With their trio to be officially completed on August 6th, they will be in dire need of properly flanking them. Shooting and scoring is the obvious compliment to them and it seems that’s possible. Jake Fisher of Bleacher Report provided updates on a few free agent possibilities:
With Westbrook now headed to Los Angeles, multiple league personnel contacted by B/R expect there to be significant interest from several veterans, including DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Carmelo Anthony, to forgo higher salary opportunities elsewhere and join the Lakers in pursuit of a championship.
If the Lakers are truly in the runnings for any of these players, they will be extremely top-heavy. Scoring, which was scarce without James and Davis, will no longer be a worry. It’ll all come down to how well they can mesh, and if their bodies can last down the stretch.
These names are a older group of players that fans are probably cringing at. But veterans will give the Lakers a much better collection of voices on their roster. The departure of Rajon Rondo and Danny Green were felt in this regard last season. Now they can get back to building a similar chemistry and navigate their way to a deep playoff run.
