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While the Lakers will make an ‘all out pursuit’ for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, cap space could be used on a specific free agent target.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>, as they enter a new phase of the franchise after this season in the post-LeBron James<\/a> era, are expected to have significant cap space over the summer<\/a> to sign top free agent targets to pair alongside Luka Doncic<\/a> and Austin Reaves<\/a> for the future.<\/p>\n The Lakers are also expected to make an \u2018all out pursuit\u2019 for Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> of the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> based on new trade rumors, but more on him as a top target in a minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the Lakers have been linked to several free agents for the upcoming offseason, one name in particular stands out as a good fit in Los Angeles, and likely within the team\u2019s budget: Peyton Watson<\/a> of the Denver Nuggets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Writing for ESPN, Dave McMenamin<\/a> named Watson as one of the free agent targets the Lakers are expected to go after.\u00a0<\/p>\n Most recently, Bobby Marks wrote that<\/a> after the Nuggets failed to sign a new deal with him over the offseason, the chances of them retaining him this summer are low.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the Lakers will likely step in. They failed to trade for a 3-and-D wing at the trade deadline, and while general manager Rob Pelinka said they turned down a few other deals<\/a> on the table, the franchise is expected to go all out this summer for some of the top free agents and trade targets across the NBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lakers Free Agent Target Peyton Watson\u00a0<\/p>\n With Denver, Watson is having the best season of his early career. He earned a surprising Player of the Week award in January<\/a>, and is putting up 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and two assists on 49.6\/41.7\/72.7 shooting splits.\u00a0<\/p>\n But what is good news for the Lakers is that the idea of Watson returning to his current team this summer is unlikely. Denver is already very close to the second apron<\/a>, and as the 23-year-old is in line for a new contract extension, it\u2019s hard to see the Nuggets offering him one while also paying their star group of players.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn Watson\u2019s case, Denver failing to reach an extension before the season could be costly,\u201d Marks wrote. \u201c(Watson) is averaging career highs in points and shooting efficiency this season. And in 39 starts, he is averaging 17.5 points with a 50.4 field goal percentage and 41.7% shooting from 3.\u201d<\/p>\n The wing player himself knows the idea of staying in Denver with his next potential contract and their current cap restrictions is a tall task, signaling that he\u2019ll be looking for a big deal elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the new CBA and the second apron, things of that nature, [the Nuggets] wanted to stay out of that,\u201d\u00a0Watson told The Denver Post in October<\/a>. \u201cAs a business, you\u2019ve gotta operate [based on] what\u2019s best for your business. And when it comes time for me to make my decision next summer, I\u2019ve gotta operate as a business myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lakers are expected to have roughly $51 million in cap space this summer, more than enough to sign Watson to a multi-year deal to put him alongside Doncic and Reaves on the wing.<\/p>\n Lakers Other Top Free Agent Targets Amid New Cap Space, \u2018All Out Pursuit\u2019 For Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade\u00a0<\/p>\n While Watson is just one of the Lakers\u2019 free agent targets, the team is reportedly eyeing several others with the cap space they\u2019ll have to fill this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Currently, Los Angeles has five unrestricted free agents this summer<\/a>, not including Reaves<\/a>, and with the money they\u2019ll free up with each potentially gone, they\u2019ll have the space to sign new players in their place.<\/p>\n McMenamin named multiple free agent candidates<\/a> the Lakers are expected to at least check in on over the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Lakers have discussed targeting players like Tobias Harris, Dean Wade, Quentin Grimes, Andrew Wiggins, Tari Eason, and Peyton Watson in the offseason, per @mcten<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cAn unrestricted free agent who has been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, is Andrew Wiggins<\/a>, but he has a player option with Miami he could exercise. Tobias Harris<\/a>, Quentin Grimes<\/a> and Dean Wade<\/a> are other players who fit that profile,\u201d he wrote, also mentioning Tari Eason<\/a> as a potential target.<\/p>\n While there are several names the Lakers have been linked to in terms of top free agent targets, one name has yet to be mentioned, but is the player Los Angeles will likely target over everyone else, and that\u2019s Antetokoumpo of the Bucks.<\/p>\n The Lakers have more assets to move over the summer than they did at the deadline, and their expected cap space paints a good picture of an Antetokounmpo deal compared to some of the other teams in the mix<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Lakers reportedly believe they have a good shot at Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, per @mcten<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cThe Lakers, team sources told ESPN, obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a <\/p>\n \u201cThe Lakers, team sources told ESPN, obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a trade out of Milwaukee,\u201d McMenamin wrote<\/a>. \u201cA Western Conference executive told ESPN he believes Antetokounmpo is the \u201cbig prize\u201d the Lakers hope to land, should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote<\/a> that the Lakers \u2018are known to be planning an\u00a0all-out pursuit of the Bucks\u2019 big man<\/a> in the summer.\u2019<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s the top-tier trade target of Antetokounmpo or a strong free agent addition like Watson, the Lakers are expected to be busy this summer to find what fits around Doncic and Reaves.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lakers\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t