NBA Rumors: Lakers Have Only One Star Free Agent In Mind This Summer

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have a head coach in Frank Vogel, it is time to buckle down to business. That includes taking aim at the top free agents in the market, someone who can help out LeBron James this coming 2019-20 NBA season.

Several names have been suggested. At the top of the list is Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler. Pitching to Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard could also happen although the Lakers are likely to focus more on realistic targets. Sadly, it seems that none of those names carry weight if this report from Sporting News is to be believed.

ESPN reported that the Lakers are unlikely to be the destination of top NBA Free Agents in the summer. The Lakers are reportedly not at the top of the list of elite players, possibly forcing the Lakers to concentrate on just one player. Ironically, he is someone who has been linked to the purple and gold in the past - Anthony Davis.

For some, it may be a waste of time for the Lakers. Most know what happened back in February and the botched NBA trade ended up costing the Lakers a playoff seat. Turmoil erupted within the team although the offseason offers a different scenario. For one, it is a time where the Lakers are expected to part with some players, most of which are likely to be the veterans who signed one-year deals.

Also worth noting is that the Pelicans do have a new executive vice president of operations in David Griffin. And while Griffin plans to sit down and try to discuss with Davis the possibility of staying on, all that depends on how talks with Davis and his agent, Rich Paul, turn out. Back in February, it was Dell Demps talking with the Lakers so this change could alter the course.

Davis had already told the Pelicans that he wanted out of New Orleans with the Lakers his preferred destination. The choices have expanded and now there are several teams have entered the fray. One of them is the Boston Celtics who had wanted the Pelicans to delay talks so that they could offer a good package this summer.

It will be a busy NBA offseason for the Lakers who will be looking to fill in key spots on the team. Irving remains a target, same with Butler. Pitches to Durant and Leonard may be possible although both have been linked to teams who have better odds of signing them.