As one of the only teams with projected cap space, the Los Angeles Lakers are naturally going to be linked to just about every free agent on the market.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, one of those players is Dean Wade of the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade is expected to have various suitors in free agency, including the Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told HoopsHype.
Wade is a 29-year-old versatile wing who can do a little bit of everything, including shooting and playing defense. He is coming off a season in which he played 59 games for the Cavaliers (38 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field and 36.2% from deep on 3.3 attempts in 22.3 minutes per game.
The Lakers are looking for 3-and-D players on the wing and Wade can help fill that role, although he likely will have a ton of suitors for mid-level type money. That includes the Cavaliers, who would love to keep him but are currently up against the second apron and don’t have much money to spend barring some other moves to clear up space.
Another player Scotto is linking to the Lakers is center Jock Landale, who is coming of a career year with the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks:
Landale, 30, is expected to have a strong market, including interest from the Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype. Expect the Australian center to command offers north of the bi-annual exception in free agency.
Landale appeared in 68 games (27 starts) for the Grizzlies and Hawks last season and put up 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 22.1 minutes per game.
While Landale has established himself as a quality backup center in the NBA, he isn’t the lob threat the Lakers are likely looking for to pair with Luka Doncic.
Jaxson Hayes is widely expected to return as the team’s backup center, but perhaps L.A. turns its attention to Landale if that doesn’t work out.
Lakers also interested in Cameron Johnson
Another player the Lakers seem to have interest in is Cameron Johnson, who is under contract for $23 million this upcoming season. The Denver Nuggets are known to be looking to keep Peyton Watson in restricted free agency, which is why they are shopping Johnson to clear up space.
If the Lakers can acquired Johnson into their salary cap space without giving up any assets then that may be something worth pursuing.
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