Yet the Lakers are still a team in transition. As long as team legend Kobe Bryant remains on the roster, there will be an urge to accelerate the retooling process. The storybook ending would be one more title with him on the squad followed by the team smoothly moving into a new era.
The front office is trying to move in that direction through the free-agent market, but it appears the Lake Show's top target, LaMarcus Aldridge, is slipping away. Let's check out the latest news on that situation along with some other notes about the team.
Aldridge Hopes Fading
The Lakers most pressing need coming into the offseason was a go-to post player. That's why taking Russell over Jahlil Okafor came as somewhat of a surprise. But the free-agent market was stronger on the interior, so it was understandable.
Like several other teams, Los Angeles set its sights on Aldridge. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers star averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season. He would fit perfectly into what the Lakers are trying to accomplish in both the short and long terms.
Alas, Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports that even though the Lakers second meeting with the power forward went better than the first, they aren't optimistic:
"The Lakers weren't sharp in their initial Tuesday night meeting with Aldridge and tried to turn it around with a redo Thursday, centering on more basketball talk. They performed better in the follow-up but didn't have the feeling afterward he would eventually join them."
Missing out on Aldridge would be a significant setback, especially considering the market is beginning to thin out. Furthermore, questions ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
