NBA news: Lakers backed to make shock free agent move - not Durant, Leonard or Thompson
THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS could move for Khris Middleton in free agency next year rather than star names like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or Klay Thompson.
Kevin Durant moving to LA Lakers could be exciting says expert
That is the suggestion from SportingNews.com’s Sean Deveney.
The Lakers are keen to add a second star alongside LeBron James as they hunt for a championship against the might of the Golden State Warriors - who have won three of the last four titles.
While LeBron has been in strong form to put the Lakers at No 7 in the Western Conference so far this year, it is thought LA do not have enough experience and post-season pedigree around him to triumph in the playoffs if they get there.
The Lakers had been linked with a move to land Kawhi Leonard last summer but opted against splitting up their promising young core to do a deal with the San Antonio Spurs.
Instead, the two-way forward was sent to the Toronto Raptors - who he has helped lift to a 15-4 start in the East.
Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front-office have been linked with a return for Leonard in 2019 with a talent-packed class offering a variety of top-tier options.
Golden State Warriors duo Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are the other superstars who could join LeBron at Staples Center.
But SportingNews.com say that, instead of those two, the Lakers could use their cap space to hand Milwaukee Bucks guard Middleton - who will hope to become an All-Star this year - a max contract.
Deveney claims that the in-form Middleton could well command a four-year $140million contract if he leaves Milwaukee - as opposed to the five-year $190m deal he will get for staying with the Bucks.
It is claimed that the Lakers and the LA Clippers are among the teams to have interest in Middleton - who has helped the Bucks go 13-4 so far this year.
But the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers are touted as other possible destinations for the 27-year-old swingman.
Middleton is averaging 19.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game with the Bucks this season and impressed as Giannis Antetokounmpo led a 143-100 thrashing of the Portland Trail Blazers yesterday.
Middleton and the Bucks are not scheduled to come face-to-face with the Lakers until March 2019, by which time the Lakers’ ambitions could become a lot clearer.
Despite interest in back-to-back MVP Durant - whose Golden State future remains unclear - Fox Sports’ Nick Wright thinks that Thompson would be a better signing.
That, however, is unlikely with Klay keen to remain in the Bay Area or move to a team where he would be the main star.
Wright told The Crossover NBA Show: “From a basketball-fit perspective, I think Klay may be the single best guy in the league to pair with LeBron. Best perimeter player I should say.
"From a life fit, the only reason I would think Klay would leave would be if he wanted to see how high up the mountain can we get if I'm our best player.
"You wouldn't go to the one place in Los Angeles where you're guaranteed not to be the best player."