Report: Insiders expect top free agents to ignore Lakers this summer

Magic Johnson has long indicated that the Los Angeles Lakers plan was to build a team around LeBron James for one year before pursuing another star player to join him following Paul George’s decision to stay in Oklahoma City.

But as Laker Nation counts the days between now and the NBA Draft Lottery and Free Agency on July 1, the NBA community at-large remains skeptical that they will get another star to pair with James in free agency. At least among the big names.

From Bill Oram of The Athletic

And the timing here is crucial. The Lakers need to project stability going into yet another critical offseason if they hope to attract a second superstar to pair with James. After Paul George ignored the Lakers last summer, most league insiders believe the biggest names in this year’s loaded class of free agents will follow his lead.

Reading between the lines, we can probably identify who those unnamed free agents are. Kevin Durant (Knicks), Kyrie Irving (Knicks) and Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) all reportedly have interest in other teams than the Lakers, should they choose to leave their current situations. It’s been rumored Klay Thompson could be in play if the Warriors try to lowball him, but if Durant leaves that seems highly unlikely.

At this rate, the Lakers would be lucky to come out of free agency with a player like Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton. Another potential target could be Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler, but a deep playoff run with Philadelphia might be enticing enough for him to return.

As for the rest of the available free agents you have guys who were All-Stars, such as Charlotte’s Kemba Walker and Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic. But those players, as good as they both are, are a far cry from the expectations Lakers fans and the Lakers organization has had.

They were able to land LeBron James and that was a success, even considering the results of this season. And despite a potential Warriors break-up on the horizon, the pathway to championship contention for the Lakers looks even more complicated than it did 365 days ago.