Lakers Rumors: Clippers, Knicks More Likely To Sign Top Free Agents, Could Prevent LeBron-AD Pairing

The teams in the NBA’s biggest markets are expected to be the top players in 2019 free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers will compete against each other, as well as with the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets to sign some of the league’s top stars.

The Lakers were the big winners of last year’s offseason when they signed LeBron James. The latest rumors suggest things won’t go as well for the organization this summer, considering the likes of Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard are given a much better chance to sign elsewhere in July.

It’s been well-documented that the Knicks are the overwhelming favorites to land Durant. The Clippers will make a play for Durant, but they are thought to have the best odds of acquiring Leonard.

The Knicks and Clippers both have an advantage over the Lakers. Both destinations will have the ability to potentially sign two max free agents, giving players like Durant and Leonard the option to team up with another All-Star.

It’s been heavily speculated that Kyrie Irving might be Durant’s top option as a new teammate. A next-level free agent like Jimmy Butler might make sense to join Leonard and the Clippers, though the team could be very competitive by simply adding Leonard to a roster that just made the playoffs.

Durant and Leonard stand out from the rest of the free agents as the two best players. They are true superstars that have proven they can be the best players on a championship team.

If James can stay healthy for the 2019-2020 season, the Lakers don’t have to add another First-Team All-NBA contender in order to be in the title picture. Assuming Durant leaves the Golden State Warriors, an addition like Irving could potentially help make Los Angeles one of the NBA’s best teams.

It was just three years ago that the Cleveland Cavaliers upset the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals with James and Irving as their only All-Stars.

When it comes to pursuing Irving, the Lakers will have the Knicks, possibly the Nets, and Boston Celtics to contend with.

The Lakers would be the most likely destination for Klay Thompson if he left Golden State as a free agent. It would be stunning to see the shooting guard play for a team other than the Warriors at some point in the next few years.

Borderline All-Stars like Butler and Khris Middleton are probably the Lakers’ most likely options in free agency. There seems to be a decent chance that Butler will leave the Philadelphia 76ers. The Milwaukee Bucks are in the driver’s seat to re-sign Middleton.

The Lakers’ best path at landing another superstar might be through a trade. L.A. will continue their pursuit of Anthony Davis this offseason. If Los Angeles gets a little luck in the lottery, their offer to the New Orleans Pelicans will all of a sudden become one the team will have to consider.

The Knicks and Clippers could also be players for Davis. New York will be able to offer no worse than the No.5 pick in this year’s draft, in addition to future first-rounders and young players like Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. The Clippers have plenty of valuable assets at their disposal, including the 76ers’ lottery-protected 2020 first-rounder and the Miami Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-round pick.

It will hardly come as a surprise if the Knicks acquire Durant and either Irving or Davis. The same goes for the Clippers when it comes to Leonard and either Davis or another All-Star.

The Lakers will be in play for most of the big names available, but they could very easily strike out with several attractive destinations having so much cap space.