LA Lakers Rumors: DeMar DeRozan May Join The Team This Summer

By Jenn Loro - 01 Apr '16 12:02PM

Kobe Bryant's farewell at the end of the season with Los Angeles Lakers will definitely be a big blow to the franchise with its current struggle of having dismal hardcourt performance despite Kobe's 81 games this season. As the season moves to a close, getting an A-game in the next season is a must and they would need the right draft and free agent to make this happen.

Latest roundup from the rumor mill suggests that Lakers are eyeing to sign in DeMar DeRozan and talk him out of a continuing hook-up with the Toronto Raptors.

As reported by Sports Rageous, Lakers have a salary cap space to sign two max contracts this offseason. This should pry the Raptors wingman into joining the purple-and-gold team. DeRozan's career with Toronto in the past several seasons is commendable. He has been named All-Star twice with a FIBA World Cup gold medal to his name.

"DeMar DeRozan is a very, very likely candidate for the Lakers. He's from L.A., he's gonna be a free agent. He loves Kobe. He grew up idolizing Kobe. So, when you start to look at the options, guys that aren't afraid to follow in Kobe's footsteps, DeRozan is not [afraid]. He would be a great add," remarked Kevin Ding of the Bleacher Report.

The Lakers currently have a $65.8 million salary cap space, one of the largest among other teams in the league, the Morning Ledger reported. With this war chest, LA will have more than enough resources to get DeRozan into a juicy deal.

In his career with the Raptors, 26-year-old DeRozan is averaging 23.6 points per game this season. With his performance, some analysts see him as a viable threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings.

Despite a number of attractive offers from various teams this offseason, DeRozan still mulls on staying with the team amid widespread speculation that he will be opting out from his contract.

"That's one you thing you can never question: my loyalty to the city. How much I really love and appreciate the team and the organization. I think all the fans understand that," remarked DeRozan as quoted by SportsNet.