After landing the second overall pick in the 2015 Draft, it appears things are starting to look up for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Not only will the Lakers be able to add someone like Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor, sports agents believe the team supposedly improved their odds in landing free agents as a result of landing the number two pick according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News:
I think it is something that helps out their sales pitch in a big, big way,” one agent told Sporting News. “The past couple of years, their pitch has sort of been, ‘Come play for us because we’re the Lakers and the weather is nice.’ That’s not enough. You’ve seen that. They have not had a direction, and that’s why players don’t want to go there.”
With ample cap space, the Lakers are in position to bring in someone on a max-contract. Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan are some of the top names available over the summer. The Lakers can also go after guards Goran Dragic or Rajon Rondo as well as wings such as Khris Middleton, Jimmy Butler, or DeMarre Carroll.
If the Lakers were to draft either Towns or Okafor, the need for a big man lessens. Rondo’s stock has fallen after his disastrous time with the Dallas Mavericks. Both Middleton and Butler are restricted free agents while Carroll is unrestricted and has helped the Hawks by being one of their top performers in the postseason.
Things will become more clear following the draft next month. Free agency opens up shortly afterwards, and the Lakers look to be active players over the summer. If things go according to their plan, the Lakers will be significantly better for the upcoming seasons.
[divide]Lakers Nation Podcast: Draft Lottery