LA Lakers Rumors: Team To Sign DeMar DeRozan And Joakim Noah In NBA Free Agency
The LA Lakers know that they need to make serious changes, and it all started with hiring Luke Walton as their next head coach. Now, it’s time for changes to the roster, and it won’t be just one or two that come and go. As the 2016 NBA Draft and free agency near, there are already plenty of rumors swirling around. It’s possible that both DeMar DeRozan and Joakim Noah could be in the Lakers’ starting lineup next season.
Rant Sports believes that the starting lineup for the Lakers will look drastically different next season. Kobe Bryant is gone and someone needs to replace him, but it likely won’t be someone who is already on the team.
Right now, DeMar DeRozan has helped lead the Toronto Raptors into the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to a victory over the Miami Heat in Game 7. Kyle Lowry may have led the charge with 35 points, but DeRozan was right there with 28 of his own, reported the Los Angeles Times.
Toronto will now go on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers for the right to head to the NBA Finals. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey knows what he has in his current stars, and that was why the game was turned over to them to win it.
“We never doubted Kyle and DeMar. They’re our All Stars and they both played like it tonight. They both stepped up and carried us.”
It’s not like the Raptors are oblivious to the good thing they have in DeMar DeRozan, but he will likely want to look for more elsewhere. He’s one of the best shooting guards in the NBA right now, and he would step right in as a certified leader for the Lakers.
LA Sports Hub believes that all DeRozan is doing now is impressing the Lakers enough to show them he deserves to play there. He’s not the only one who could be in a new Lakers uniform next season.
Rumors were flying around last season that the Chicago Bulls were looking to trade Joakim Noah before the deadline hit. One of the possible deals that had been discussed was one with the LA Lakers, but it never ended up happening and the big man stayed put.
Now, that could end up changing in free agency.
One of the main things the Lakers lacked last season was defense and that is exactly what Joakim Noah brings to the court. When healthy, he can hold his own against virtually every player in the NBA, and the Lakers need that type of presence in the lane.
Chicago Bulls intend to engage in discussions with re-signing Joakim Noah this offseason – (Source: K.C. Johnson) – https://t.co/rjfgs2EMTl
— Chicago Bulls Rumors (@chicagobullsbot) May 12, 2016
The Bulls aren’t going to just give up on Noah and let him go without a fight. They are definitely going to try to re-sign him for a return to Chicago, but Noah may feel as if it is time to move on and play somewhere else.
With a lot of salary cap money to spend, the Lakers are going to look at some ideal and top targets first, but Noah and DeRozan are very high on their list to start.
As last season is something that virtually everyone in Los Angeles wants to forget about, it’s time to move on. Fans and players are looking ahead to next year, and it’s obvious that the LA Lakers are going to look drastically different from last season. Joakim Noah and DeMar DeRozan want to be paid, and the Lakers have the ability to do just that. 2016-2017 may be when the Lakers turn it around in the NBA, and free agency is going to help them do it.
[Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images]
