As everyone knows by now, the summer of 2015 will be an extremely important one for the future of the Los Angeles Lakers. Armed with around $30 million of cap space, the team will undoubtedly be going after a number of players in free agency.
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Kobe Bryant will definitely play a large role in the recruitment of players. He has already spoken about continuing to talk to Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo, but according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, Kobe has his eye on others as well — though he refused to name names:
Any FAs aside from Rondo that Kobe wants to recruit? Kobe: Yeah. Anyone in particular? Kobe: Yeah. Will you share names? Kobe: No.
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) January 22, 2015
General manager Mitch Kupchak will obviously be the man spearheading all of the Lakers moves, and Kobe had high praise for him, while also reminding fans of a sore spot in recent Lakers history:
Kobe praised Mitch Kupchak, calling him “phenomenal — so much so that the league had to protest a trade that he made. Think a/b that sh*t."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) January 22, 2015
The trade Kobe is referring to is the agreed-upon trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. The NBA, owners of the then-New Orleans Hornets at the time, famously vetoed the deal for basketball reasons.
There are a large number of impact free agents available this summer for the Lakers to go after. Established stars such as Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge headline the group, but young players such as Greg Monroe, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and Reggie Jackson could wind up being more attainable.
[divide]Kobe, Lebron Talk About Going Against Each Other
