The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking for trade partners as they try to unload several contracts and create enough space to sign both LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan to max contracts, Yahoo Sports NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday.
The Lakers are now in a big game hunting for two All-Star caliber frontline players despite dealing with the constraints created by Kobe Bryant's massive paycheck. According to cap projections, the Lakers will have a maximum of $28 million salary cap, if they decide not to pick up a team option on the second year of Jordan Hill's contract worth $9 million.
Aldridge, who reportedly told the Portland Trail Blazers management about his intention to sign elsewhere, will be the Lakers top target this free-agency season, but sources close to situation also pointed out that the team is also pursuing Los Angeles Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan.
Signing both these players would require the Lakers to unload other commitments, including the contracts of Robert Sacre and Nick Young, who has been on the trading block since at the end of the 2014-15 season.
"Around the league, executives believe the Lakers are pursuing space to offer free agent deals to LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan. The Lakers are working to unload contracts, trying to create significantly more salary cap space, league sources tell Yahoo Sports," via Wojnarowski.
Aldridge (23.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg and 1.0 rpg) and Jordan (11.0 ppg, 15 rpg, and 2.2 bpg) would be a welcome addition to the Lakers, giving them a formidable frontline after addressing their backcourt with the selection of Ohio State's standout playmaker D'Angelo Jordan as the no.2 overall pick in this year's draft.