Los Angeles Lakers: Latest rumors before 2017 NBA free agency begins

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The latest Los Angeles Lakers rumors suggest there are a number of routes this franchise can take as 2017 NBA free agency lingers just around the corner.

It's about that time. 2017 NBA free agency is only two days away, and the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to, well, sit on their hands. It's going to be a slow offseason for a team that's saving all of its cap space for 2018.

And yet, the rumor mill has been busy churning out one Lakers rumor after another. Whether it's the latest word on their pursuit of Paul George or a look at other free agents who could fall into their crosshairs in the next couple of seasons, there is no shortage of whispers out there about Magic Johnson's plans for the franchise's future.

Regardless, it seems like a good time to catch you up on the latest Lakers rumors making their way around the interwebs. So that's why we're here — to get up to date on what the future could hold for this squad.

Just keep in mind that these are rumors. It's best to take them all with a grain of salt, even if the source seems reputable. Remember — there's a reason they're called "rumors" and not "facts" or "news."

Now that we've got that cleared up, here are the latest Lakers rumors working their way around the blogosphere. Based on the lack of noise Los Angeles is expected to make during free agency, this may be the most exciting information you get on the team all week.

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Jordan Clarkson makes Twitter pitch to J.J. Redick

There's been a lot of speculation surrounding the Lakers' plan for free agency. It's safe to assume they'll look to keep spending to a minimum, but there are still some folks out there hoping they'll make a notable addition next month.

One of the guys in that boat is Jordan Clarkson.

On Wednesday, three days before the start of free agency, Clarkson made a pitch to J.J. Redick to join the Lakers. The soon-to-be-former Los Angeles Clippers starter is set to hit the open market, and is believed to be headed elsewhere with the franchise on the verge of rebuild mode.

Clarkson tweeted "come across the street bro," but deleted the message shortly after. Still, Silver Screen and Roll got a screenshot of the tweet before it was taken down — you can see it here. Before you get too excited, there's a very small chance the Lakers land their crosstown rival's sharpshooter.

Despite being 33 years of age, Redick is very likely to land a large deal via free agency. Even if the Lakers were willing to dish out a pricy one-year deal, the Duke product could likely find similar money within a long-term deal — a more intriguing option for a player at this point in his NBA career.

It's interesting to imagine Redick joining this young Lakers lineup. He'd bring some serious shooting to the mix, which new general manager Rob Pelinka already mentioned is a priority this offseason (via Lakers Nation's Serena Winters). However, the financial aspect of it makes a marriage nearly impossible.

Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Cross Carmelo off Lakers' wish list

Even with Phil Jackson done in New York, the Knicks are looking at a future without Carmelo Anthony. The relationship appears beyond repair. Carmelo has requested a buyout. The team is more interested in a trade, but a parting of ways seems like the eventual outcome.

The Lakers, however, shouldn't get their hopes up for landing the Knicks' star small forward. There's been a lot of recent discussion about Anthony potentially joining Los Angeles somewhere down the line. That appears to be off the table, though, at least for now.

Here's the latest from the NY Daily News' Frank Isola:

Any interest in Carmelo would likely only come into play if the Lakers missed out on George next offseason. However, with that seeming less and less likely with every passing day, a possible partnership between Anthony and Los Angeles probably wouldn't have come into play anyway. For those of you holding out hope, I'd begin looking for a new pipe dream.

The odds were always long of Carmelo wearing the purple and gold. Based on Isola's comments, the odds are about as close to nil as they've ever been. Let's hope Johnson has a different backup plan in place.

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Klay Thompson being recruited to LA?

At this point in the offseason, just about every big name set to be a free agent in the next couple of years has been linked to the Lakers. From George to LeBron James to Russell Westbrook, the rumors have run rampant regarding Magic's plans for the future.

The latest name to add to that list is Klay Thompson, the two-time champion and star shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors. As it turns out, George is allegedly recruiting Thompson to join him in Los Angeles when he's a free agent in 2019.

With all of these options down the road, I'm guessing the Lakers would love to just skip the 2017-18 season. Chances are George joins the club next offseason, and James could do the same. Especially with reports surfacing that he's not interested in playing for the Los Angeles Clippers (via the Undefeated's Mike Wise), the Lakers seem like the top option if the King leaves Cleveland.

If James doesn't work out, though, they could potentially save the cap space and sign Thompson in 2019. There's been speculation he could jump ship to become a more prominent piece of someone else's lineup. Plus, it's not like the Warriors are going to have the money to dish out another max deal to keep Thompson around with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green already raking it in.

The tweet doesn't exactly say the Lakers are planning on targeting Thompson, so take it with a grain of salt. Regardless, it's a thought-provoking scenario that could actually play out if certain pieces fall into place.

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