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Quick Bytes
- Lakers yet to sign new players; DeMar DeRozan emerges as a key target.
- LeBron James open to a pay cut to facilitate impactful signings.
- Bulls willing to discuss sign-and-trade deals for DeRozan with the Lakers.
Lakers Eye DeMar DeRozan as Key Offseason Acquisition
The Los Angeles Lakers’ free agency period remains stagnant with no new signings, leading to speculation about their strategy.
Initially eyeing Klay Thompson, the Lakers’ plans took a hit when he signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, with limited options available, the focus has shifted to DeMar DeRozan. Lakers’ GM Rob Pelinka is considering leveraging LeBron James’s willingness to take a pay cut to add DeRozan to the roster. Reports confirm the Lakers’ genuine interest in DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls’ openness to sign-and-trade discussions, albeit with a contract that might be less lucrative than what DeRozan desires.
The Lakers hope to secure DeRozan using the $12.9 million mid-level exception, which would allow them to preserve assets for additional team improvements. DeRozan, a Compton native, has previously expressed his desire to play for the Lakers, and this offseason presents a new opportunity for both parties to reach an agreement. LeBron James’s unprecedented willingness to accept a pay cut for DeRozan underscores the importance of this potential acquisition for the Lakers’ ambitions to return to championship contention.
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