The Los Angeles Lakers did a good job on draft day. Now, with the free agency period drawing nigh, general manager Mitch Kupchak must shift his focus to luring top talent to the storied franchise.
This task may prove to be more challenging than expected.
After nabbing dynamic guard D'Angelo Russell during Thursday's NBA Draft, the Lakers aim to revamp their roster after a dreadful 2014-15 season. The team will likely look very different next year, as a handful of their players will be unrestricted free agents as of July 1.
On the Lakers' wish list is Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol. However, the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan reported Saturday that the 7-foot-1 center has no intention of making the Staples Center his new home court.
Apparently, a major factor in Gasol's lack of desire to play for the purple and gold is the way the Lakers (mis)treated his older brother, Pau, during the latter player's final years in L.A.
Despite being consistently productive and maintaining a positive and professional approach while a member of the Lakers, Pau was constantly thrown around in trade proposals throughout the several seasons following the team's back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010.
The elder Gasol averaged a steady 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds in his seven seasons with the Lakers. He was named an All-Star three times during this period. Nevertheless, the Lakers allowed him to walk without putting up a fight, as he signed a three-year $22-million deal with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent.
It has long been believed Marc will re-sign with the Grizzlies this summer.
For the Lakers, swinging and missing on Marc would likely mean they would turn to other prized free-agent big men: LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, Paul Millsap, Greg Monroe, and Tyson Chandler to name a few.
Related: NBA Free Agents List
Currently, the Lakers have only five players under contract for the 2015-16 season: Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, Julius Randle, Ryan Kelly, and Tarik Black.
