MANILA, Philippines – The Los Angeles Lakers is in a position to lure either Miami’s Lebron James or Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony or even both in what is expected to be a star-studded 2014 NBA Free Agent class.
By not committing to any players past this season, the Lakers are primed to make a big splash next off-season.
Other marquee superstars in the market next year includes James teammates’ Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh of the Heat, Amare Stoudemire of the Knicks, Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks, Danny Granger of the Pacers and Luol Deng of the Bulls.
According to a report from EPSN’s Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, the Lakers can sign at least two maximum players because of their salary cap flexibility next year after their failed negotiation to re-sign enigmatic center Dwight Howard this off-season, leaving them only two guaranteed contracts in 2014 for Steve Nash and Robert Sacre.
"It's all wishful thinking at this point," a league source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN. "Teams are doing more wishing than LeBron is wanting right now. It's not about where LeBron wants to go [to win]. He already has two rings. If LeBron moved to Reno, teams would come to him."
The Lakers may have lost the Howard sweepstakes but it opened up more doors to other big names to combine their star power with Kobe Bryant in Hollywood next year.
Bryant will be the highest paid player in the NBA next season with a guaranteed pay of $30.5 million while the Lakers have recently amnestied one of their key players Metta World Peace in a salary cap-induced move.
Also in the report is the supposed willingness or open idea of Bryant to take a pay cut in their recruitment effort for the 2014 NBA Free Agency circus.
"As a businessman the goal is always to not take a pay cut," Bryant said. "But ..." Bryant told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin last week that he intends to be involved in the Lakers' recruiting efforts for 2014 and is looped into the team's decision-making., ESPN said in their report.
James is set to visit the Philippines on July 23 as part of his “Witness Greatness†tour that will also take him to China, coming off another stellar season.
The four-time MVP has already gone through a similar process back in 2010 when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers via free agency.
Anthony, meanwhile, is one of James' closest friends, entering the NBA the same year. They have been friends since their high school days. If they both fail to win next year it would not seem far fetch for the two superstars to join their 2008 Olympic teammate Bryant in the City of Angels.
The Lakers have always been one of the most sought after destinations for NBA superstars with a huge market and winning tradition that can only be rivaled by the Boston Celtics.
Former NBA greats who have worn the purple and gold jersey include Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West.