Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
New Lakers head coach Luke Walton may already have an idea who to persuade in this summer's free agency to join him in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly given Walton the team's offseason plans, including the LA's free agent targets, according to Bill Oram of the OC Register.
Walton said Lakers execs laid out a comprehensive vision for the organization, including players they want to chase in FA
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 30, 2016
Walton, who currently works as assistant head coach for the Golden State Warriors, has yet to reveal the pool of candidates in the Lakers' free agent bucket list, but there is a growing sense that names like Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan could possibly be included as the team attempts to immediately jumpstart changes within the organization.
Durant has long been linked to the Lakers, but the two-time scoring champion has yet to show any interests of playing for the Purple and Gold. Nevertheless, Durant qualifies as the star the Lakers need to turn the franchise around, and with a projected max salary cap of $62.6 million, LA could be in pole position to sign the OKC Thunder superstar.
Magic Johnson, who won five championships with the Lakers in the 1980s, also backed the storied franchise to prioritize Durant in free agency, although it is probably inevitable for any team to pursue the top free agent available in the market.
Laker Nation: The first free agent the Lakers should go after is Kevin Durant. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 2, 2016
On the other hand, DeRozan has also been rumored to head to Los Angeles next season, with the Toronto Raptors star expected to opt out of his four-year $38 million contract. According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, DeRozan has will be in a Lakers uniform next season, considering that he grew up in LA and has family out there.
"He's made it very, very clear that he wants to be in L.A.," Smith said.
"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 next season."
While Smith's description of DeRozan's status is not exactly correct as he heads into the summer as an unrestricted free agent, the move would make sense for the 26-year-old if he wishes to play for his hometown.
DeRozan has been adamant he wants to continue playing for the Raptors and establish a legacy in the North, but there is a growing sense that if Toronto fails to reach deep in the playoffs, the star shooting guard could look elsewhere to take his talents.
Laker Nation: DeMar DeRozan should be one of the free agents we go after this summer.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 2, 2016
It remains to be seen whether Walton could really attract top free agents this summer. But with the Lakers having plenty of money to spend in free agency and the promising talents the team's young players offer, they may have a chance to land the likes of Durant and DeRozan once the market opens.
