2016 Free Agent Targets for LA Lakers

These players have a realistic chance of switching teams and at market price should be good fits for the rising franchise:

  1. Kevin Durant: Duh
  2. Hassan Whiteside (C, 27): Defensive anchor to erase mistakes made by Lakers’ young core. Should continue to perform well under player’s coach Luke Walton.
  3. DeMar DeRozan (G-F, 26): Max money for this LA native would be a slight overpay, but talent is talent.
  4. Al Horford (C-F, 30): Just turned 30 and finally played two injury-free seasons. Great player but doesn’t fit the trajectory of Lakers’ young core.
  5. Chandler Parsons (F, 27): Coming off major surgeries. Pass if he asks for the max.
  6. Nicholas Batum (F, 27): Great player, but not at the max.
  7. Ryan Anderson (F, 28): Can shoots 3s, post and offensive board = a prototypical stretch 4. Would be good to pair with one of the max guys.
  8. Bismack Biyombo (C, 23): Athletic center that broke-out during playoffs. Going to get more than $16 mil a year.
  9. Festus Ezeli (C, 26):  Older version of Biyombo.
  10. Kent Bazemore (F-G, 26): 3 and D wing. But can’t D the wings that matter (LeBron, KD, Kawhi)
  11. Evan Fournier (G, 23): Klay Thompson lite. Throw 4 years $60mil at him and hope Magic don’t match.

*I did not forget about Mike Conley, Andre Drummond, Dwight Howard, or Bradley Beal. Those guys aren’t coming to LA.

Ranking the 2016 NBA Draft Prospects

Who will have the most successful careers?

  1. Ben Simmons: Offensive versatility of Lamar Odom and Draymond Green.
  2. Brandon Ingram: Does his frame allow him to guard 3s let alone 4s?
  3. Buddy Hield: Shooters with character and decent athleticism almost always have long careers.
  4. Kris Dunn: Incredible story, but was he simply a man among boys?
  5. Jaylen Brown: Athletic and smart players always eventually figure it out. But will it be on the team that drafts him?
  6. Dragan Bender: Will have ups and downs.
  7. Marquese Chriss: Underrated until overrated. Athleticism and shooting stroke intriguing, poor rebounding and basketball feel concerning.
  8. Jamal Murray: Marcus Thornton?