For the Los Angeles Lakers, a proud franchise that has fallen upon dark times, this offseason is an opportunity to rebuild and get back into contention for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Here's a look at some of the latest rumors surrounding the Lakers, which come on both the draft and free-agency fronts.
Jordan Clarkson Could Have Other Suitors Shooting guard Jordan Clarkson enjoyed a successful second season in the NBA while proving to be one of the few bright spots on the Lakers.
In 79 games, the 24-year-old averaged 15.5 points per contest while shooting over 43 percent from the field. He showed versatility by scoring from all corners of the floor along with above-average athleticism.
With point guard D'Angelo Russell and forward Julius Randle, the Lakers have a young core that management can build a team around.
But Clarkson is headed for restricted free agency and, according to ESPN.com's Ian Begley, "has fans in the Knicks organization."
On Thursday, though, Clarkson made it clear to Shahan Ahmed of NBC Los Angeles that he wants to stay in Los Angeles: "L.A. is like home for me, so I definitely want to be here. I definitely want to stay in L.A. but kind of have an open mind."
According to Spotrac, the Lakers have $23,126,154 in active contracts in 2016-17. That could leave around $70 million to play with in the offseason. So if it comes down to a bidding war, it's unlikely that the Lakers will be beaten.
Could Lakers Be Showing Their Draft Hand? With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, the Lakers looked destined to take LSU's Ben Simmons or Duke's B...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
