General manager Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers have exited the Kobe Bryant era with just two pieces for the future in place and now have to hope for a top slot in the NBA draft lottery before tackling a critical free-agency period.
The lottery is up first, though the Lakers aren't trying to get their hopes up too much because if two teams pass them in the order, the pick goes to the Philadelphia 76ers.
"If it doesn't work out where we get the pick, we get [a first-round] pick next year and we still have the ability to improve the team this summer," Kupchak said, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
Speaking of improving over the summer, Kupchak has also gone out of his way to hint at possible trades, telling Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News that “nobody’s off limits.”
Interested in keeping an eye on the Lakers yet? Before the lottery gets underway Tuesday, here's a look at the most notable rumors making the rounds.
DeMar DeRozan Wants to Join Lakers?
DeMar DeRozan and the Lakers cannot seem to escape one another.
When one thinks of superstars the Lakers could ink this summer, the mind goes right to Kevin Durant. DeRozan isn't far behind, though, in large part because it just makes too much sense.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith recently talked about the pairing on First Take, as captured by Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com:
He’s made it very, very clear that he wants to be in L.A. He has family out there. He’s from out there. He wants to be in L.A. He wants to wear the purple and gold, and if there’s a way for it to happen, again he’s restricted, if there’s a way for it to happen, DeMar DeRozan will be in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform ne...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
