With big-name stars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and John Calipari showing no interest in the Los Angeles Lakers rebuilding plans, the franchise could be taking the baby-steps rout in hopes of positioning itself for 2015.
USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick reported Tuesday that Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luol Deng is on the Lakers radar for 2014-15.
Lakersnation.com reported Amick as saying, "Another possibility is Luol Deng. Currently with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was traded there from Chicago at midseason, and has not entirely ruled out going back to Cleveland, but he will be a free agent this summer and is definitely on the Lakers' radar."
Deng, who turns 29 on April 16, is struggling a bit since being traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season. Deng is averaging 14.4 points per game for the Cavaliers, his lowest point total in six seasons.
The Lakers will have available cap space, and while it seems they are not in the running for the services of a superstar free agent such as James or Anthony, they are trying to become competitive quickly to help Kobe Bryant get a shot at one more NBA title before he retires.
The other free agents with whom the Lakers have a realistic chance of signing, are Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry and Pau Gasol, who currently calls the Lakers home.
The Lakers already have three point guards on their roster, including Jordan Farmer, Kendall Marshall and Nash.
Curiously, reports surfaced earlier this season that Lakers management might be inclined to keep coach Mike D'Antoni one more year because they look to be more than one player away of competing for the NBA Finals and they don't want to have to pay D'Antoni's $4 million salary and hire a new coach.
If that's the case, why go after Deng at all? If the Lakers are trying to clear cap space for 2015, they would not want a player taking them out of the gutter in 2014 and making them a mediocre team.
But Deng likely would make the Lakers more competitive, which could go a long way in raising the Lakers' profile in 2014-15 as well as become a sign that the team is looking at head-coaching options.
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