LA Lakers Rumors: Team May Hire Golden State Warriors' Player Harrison Barnes for Next Season

The Lakers has posted its worst record performance in the 2015-16 season. The team did find a little consolation when Kobe Bryant finished his last game with the usual flair and finesse that he's known for.

Into the postseason, the team needs to reflect on its previous mistakes and work their way forward. Before the team could ever set eyes on the championship again, they would need to hire some new lead players in the free agency market this summer.

If recent speculations prove accurate, we could probably see Golden State's Harrison Barnes throwing away his Warriors jersey shirt for gold and purple uniform next season. Barnes is a restricted free agent which means that there is a good chance he'll get into the Lakers fold unless the Warriors matches up a counter-offer.

As the salary cap heats up, many teams will surely have a lot of money to burn to acquire highly prized talents like Barnes. But what is the likelihood of Barnes switching allegiance in exchange for a tempting Lakers offer?

"The Warriors will have the money to counter offers from other teams but if Barnes wants a maximum contract, the price could be stifling to Golden State given they have signed Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry on long term deals," Hall of Fame Magazine reported.

With Lakers' impressive $57 million-war chest, they could easily give Barnes a max contract. But will he be a good buy for the Lakers? Analyst Mychal Thompson seems to think so.

"I think he could be more of a featured scorer, maybe a No. 2 option, maybe even a No. 1 on certain nights. He's capable of putting up in the high-20s. He's a very good shooter, can get to the basket, very athletic," Thompson said as quoted by ESPN.

"He just hasn't been asked to do very much in Golden State, but coming here, he'd be asked to do more, and I think he could."

As for his game stats in the playoffs, Barnes averages 9.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game and the fourth-leading scorer for the team. Throughout the entire season, the Warriors small forward is averaging 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

"The Los Angeles Lakers are in need of an upgrade at the small forward position. Harrison Barnes could potentially fill in that missing void for the Lakers. He has all the tools that teams will be looking for at the position. Barnes is currently 23-years-old and could grow with the young players that Los Angeles already have," Jack Windham explained as per Inquisitr.