Jae C. Hong/Associated Press The Los Angeles Lakers aren't being particular as far as potential ways to upgrade their roster this offseason. Per Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, no player is considered off-limits in potential trade discussions with teams, though they aren't actively shopping anyone on the roster: "While they like their young core and would prefer to keep those players growing together, they have told teams no player is untouchable in trades, according to multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of trade and free-agent negotiations. "To be clear, the Lakers are not actively shopping any of their players. They are willing to listen to offers and could move one of them — even a member of the talented young cadre of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram or Josh Hart — if an offer blows them away." Los Angeles had a terrific draft last year with Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma joining a young core that also includes Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle. All four players are 23 years old or younger. Kuzma was technically drafted by the Nets 27th overall and traded to the Lakers on draft night. The Lakers' first draft pick in 2018 isn't until No. 25 overall because their selection, which wound up being the No. 10 pick, went to the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade. The front office is projected to have $61.9 million in cap space for free agency, per Spotrac. Paul George, who is from the Los Angeles area and can opt out of his deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been linked to the Lakers dating back to the 2016-17 season. Video Play Button Videos you might like The Lakers are in a tricky spot this summer. Their 35-47 record last season was their best since the 2012-13 campaign, but it still left them 12 games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Bold moves will be necessary for them to get back in postseason contention next year.<doc-sep>Players as good as Kawhi Leonard don’t come on the market very often, so if there is even the slightest chance his reported discontentment with the San Antonio Spurs could make him available to the Los Angeles Lakers in either a trade or when he becomes an NBA free agent, the team has to look into it. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, that is exactly what the team is going to do, but he also reports that (unsurprisingly) they won’t be alone: The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers have interest in Leonard, each with a differing array of young assets to trade for him now and the potential of salary-cap space to sign Leonard outright in 2019. Wojnarowski also wrote that the Boston Celtics tried to trade for Leonard last year but that them trading for him now is “far less likely” than it was at the last trade deadline. If Leonard and the Spurs don’t see eye-to-eye on his future, than the Lakers front office would be negligent to not sniff around, and of course they have rather nebulous “interest” in him. However, just how much “interest” Los Angeles has in Leonard, or in giving up young players or other trade assets for him, will likely depend on whatever due diligence the front office can and will do on his health situation. Leonard had an often-confusing injury odyssey with the Spurs last season, and the Lakers would surely look into how healthy he was before attempting to make a deal for him. If he is healthy, though, Leonard is a top-five player in the NBA (at least) and with how seldom players like that become available, the Lakers would be foolish to not consider dealing one or two of their young core for him. While it would seem to be unlikely they would include more than one of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram or Kyle Kuzma in such a deal, one of those three and Josh Hart and/or a future first would seem to be about as good of an offer as anyone is going to give the Spurs, who will be dealing from a position of weakness and likely just trying to get something for Leonard before he walks for nothing, if they put him on the market. If the Lakers could make a trade like that this summer, they would instantly have a solid foundation for their recruiting pitch to LeBron James and/or Paul George, and although it might be tough to make the math work in a short period of time, Los Angeles could potentially suit up the most ridiculously versatile and switchy wing trio the NBA has ever seen, an instant path to competing with the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. If they can’t make that happen, well, then they may have space to sign Leonard as a free agent in 2019 anyway. However, while signing a player for “free” is always better than giving up assets in a vacuum, given how seldom players like Leonard come on the market, the Lakers have to at least consider the idea that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Leonard is the type of player teams rebuild for, the type of top-five talent that the team can only hope Ball, Kuzma or Ingram turn into, but may never actually do so. If they have to give up a bit of their young core to get a player like that, that isn’t the Carmelo Anthony deal. Leonard (if healthy) is far better than that, and if the Lakers are really all-in on getting back to contention, finding a way to make good on their “interest” in him might be the first step, as long as they don’t let the Spurs gauge them for too many assets. You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.<doc-sep>To this point, most fans of the Los Angeles Lakers have operated under the assumption that the front office’s lone goal this summer is to add superstars at all costs. Call it blissful ignorance, but the very concept of anything but that scenario simply isn’t donning on many. Still, the Lakers have to keep their options open, and one way to recover from not adding free agents is to extend the youth-centered rebuild. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor relayed some of what he’s heard regarding the Lakers intentions on the latest episode of The Ringer NBA Show. “I have heard the Lakers are looking to either add a pick either in the middle of the first round, or trade up from the 25th pick into the middle of the first round to draft a player they are targeting-Zhaire Smith is a name I’ve heard they are very high on. So if that’s true, I’ve also heard that would also mean they have the willingness to add salary this summer, like Ramona Shelburne has reported before they would be willing to add money this summer and then pursue free agents in 2019. Ramona reported that before, and I’ve heard that again this week.” The Lakers are one a very few teams with cap room this summer, leaving all kinds of owners probably not all that willing to spend the amount they’re spending on a team that doesn’t have a legitimate shot at winning a title. So, if one of those teams are desperate enough to attach a first-round-pick to a bad contract, the Lakers would be remiss not to answer that call. For example, if the Lakers miss out on LeBron James and/or Paul George, they could take advantage of another team’s fruitless spending and add a player they really liked during the pre-draft workout process (in this case Smith) or a future first- or second-round pick that could be used in any number of ways. Draft night is always thoroughly entertaining but could serve as a forecast for how Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office feel about their chances at LeBron, George or any other key free agent signing this summer. If a move like the one O’Connor or Shelburne mention takes place, we might start to get some clarity on how the rest of the offseason might play out, as unfortunate as it might seem. Pete Zayas and I had a conversation about this scenario playing out last week. Give it a listen if you haven’t yet.<doc-sep>Picture this: A Big 3 to end all Big 3s. Ever since Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce teamed up in Boston just over a decade ago, teams have been looking for that perfect combination of players. With San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard reportedly wanting a trade out of San Antonio, Lakers fans are hoping that their team's future will include Leonard, along with LeBron James and Paul George. However, what happens in free agency is yet to be decided, and just landing Leonard would huge for the Lakers and their fans. There are those that think the Lakers are taking the speculation a bit too far. Other fans are firing up the trade machine and ... wait, what? And in San Antonio, who have held out hope that the prospect of a supermax would be enough to keep Leonard on, there's been a slight malfunction. Lakers fans, meanwhile, are just excited in general. This is kind of a mess, and the story is still in its fledgling stages. But the thought of Leonard, James and George teaming up is a terrifying one. If it does happen, fans will face the ultimate challenge: Overcome the hatred that about 29 teams have for the Lakers due to slights in years passed? Or cheer for the Warriors to make their way toward a third straight title. That's a tough decision for most NBA fans, but it's one that they may face if the offseason plays out the way some are anticipating.<doc-sep>
When franchises build out the core of a team, sometimes they tab players they're unwilling to move. Donovan Mitchell, for instance, is probably close to untouchable for the Utah Jazz no matter what offer a team might throw their way. Same for Ben Simmons and the 76ers and for a short list of up-and-comers in the league. But the same can't be said for any of the Lakers core. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers front office has reportedly told teams that no player -- not Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball or even Kyle Kuzma -- on their roster is untouchable in trades. Which means that, for the right price or package, anyone could be shipped out. That philosophy isn't exactly a surprise given that most teams would fold their cards for the right price. But for the Lakers to be open to moving their core is a big deal, if only because their core is uber-talented and star-studded with the trio of Ball, Ingram and Kuzma the most notable of their young bunch. As the Times noted, however, not being untouchable and shopping the young stars are two very different things. To be clear, the Lakers are not actively shopping any of their players. They are willing to listen to offers and could move one of them — even a member of the talented young cadre of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram or Josh Hart — if an offer blows them away. It's clear Magic Johnson and the Lakers brass want to be a playoff team as quickly as possible. With LeBron James' looming free agency this summer hanging over the NBA, perhaps floating this news doubles not only as a message to the youngsters, but also as a sign that the front office may be prepared to be aggressive this summer to expedite the rebooting process.