Bad luck has hounded the Los Angeles Lakers the past two seasons with injuries and missed opportunities to sign elite level free-agents. Still, NBA writer Arash Markazi thinks the Lakers will eventually strike gold somewhere along the way, and Russell Westbrook is no doubt the biggest nugget out there waiting to be picked up.
In the last 2014-15 season edition of ESPN the Forum, Markazi discussed about the Lakers' potential moves this offseason, including the prospect of upgrading their backcourt by drafting the likes of D'Angelo Russell or Emanuel Mudiay or signing All-Star playmaker Rajon Rondo to a contract.
Markazi isn't ruling out these options for the reason the Lakers would need to get all the available talents they can get after playing the last two years with roster filled with journeymen.
However, the ESPN analyst isn't a fan of having Rondo for a long-term deal. Although he would welcome a proven player like Rondo anytime, Markazi stressed the Lakers must sign him only to a short-term deal because two years from now another mega-star will be up for grabs in the free-agency market.
Markazi is talking about All-Star MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook, who will become an unrestricted free-agent in the summer of 2017. According to the ESPN pundit, Westbrook has been looking to go home all this time, and the Lakers have that it appeal.
"In two years, Russell Westbrook I can guarantee is looking at coming home. He's from here, went to UCLA. He's that next franchise-changing player that they can bring in I believe," Markazi stated.
Westbrook, who averaged a league-high 28.1 points, 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game in a non-playoff season for the Thunder, hasn't shared a lot of detail about his future plans, but sources close to situation reported that he considers the Lakers as a top destination when his contract expires.
Armed with at least $19 million (or $28MM if Jordan Hill's second-year team option not exercised) in cap space, the Lakers have the opportunity to build up its case as an appealing free-agent destination by signing a future cornerstone of the team before they can get their hands on Westbrook two summers from now.