NBA Rumors: Lakers, Cavaliers Among 8 Teams Chasing Shooting Guard

The Los Angeles Lakers are among three teams – the other two being Clippers and Dallas Mavericks – that have cap space remaining as free agency enters its eighth day. After a flurry of activity in the first 48 hours, free agency has calmed a bit with all the attention now on Kawhi Leonard, the only elite free agent yet to make a decision.

The Lakers still have $32 million in max salary cap space and are waiting on Leonard, who is now their primary target. Until the small forward makes a decision, the Los Angeles franchise is stuck giving minimum deals in order to fill out their thin roster.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka won the race for Anthony Davis but had to give up a big chunk of the young core, namely, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart. They now have multiple spots to fill on the roster and have thus far added Jared Dudley and Troy Daniels on minimum deals and now have their eyes on free agent Justin Holiday.

According to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto, the Lakers are among eight teams that have shown interest in signing the free agent shooting guard/small forward. The other teams include Clipper, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.

“Free agent Justin Holiday is considering interest from several teams including the Lakers, Clippers, Bulls, Raptors, Pacers, Wizards, Hornets and Cavaliers, league sources told The Athletic. Memphis is open to a sign-and-trade with him,” Scotto wrote.

Holiday spent the 2018-19 season with the Bulls and the Grizzlies and had probably his best season yet in the NBA. He averaged a combined 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 82 games played while shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc.

The Lakers are short of guards in their squad and could look to add Holiday, but their focus will be on Leonard in the coming days while they compete with the other seven teams to bring in players to fill their vacant roster spots.