UPDATE (1:15 PM): According to TNT’s David Aldridge, Mitch Kupchak and the Los Angeles Lakers were able to meet with LeBron James’ agent on Friday:
Lakers did have their meeting in Cleveland today with LeBron James's agent, Rich Paul, per source familiar with the discussions.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 4, 2014
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The Los Angeles Lakers had a huge day planned as they met with Carmelo Anthony today and apparently offered him a max contract.
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But there are two big names in free agency, and news began to break today that multiple teams met with LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul. The Lakers were not one of those teams, but were still trying to secure a meeting, and now it seems like they have as general manager Mitch Kupchak is headed to Cleveland according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard:
@ramonashelburne reports that Mitch Kupchak flying to CLE to meet with LeBron's agent Rich Paul
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 4, 2014
The Lakers had hopes of pairing both James and Anthony along with Kobe Bryant, but in reality they only have the cap room to land one unless both agree to take major pay cuts, which is unlikely.
The Lakers went all-out in their meeting with Anthony today, but the team is not stopping there and that is admirable. If the team could land James, it would immediately turn around the fortunes of the Lakers.
James’ agent has already met with representatives from the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets, and now the Lakers have added their name to the mix.
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Lakers Mitch Kupchak On Coach Search And Free Agency
