NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers To Sign Mike Conley In NBA Free Agency

Mike Conley is one of the top names heading into the 2016 NBA offseason in free agency, and there are a lot of teams who are going to attempt to sign him. Obviously, the Memphis Grizzlies would love to have him back, but there are a lot of other teams that have reported interest in him.

We have already reported that the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are interested in Conley. There is another big market team that couuld have interest in signing the star point guard as well.

Now, there is buzz that the Los Angeles Lakers could sign Conley this coming free agency period.

Keith Rivas of Los Angeles Sports Hub opined that the Lakers could be in on Conley this offseason. They have D’Angelo Russell, but may want to bring in a point guard more ready to help them contend now. Luke Walton certainly wants to get back into playoff contention and they can’t do that with their current roster.

Throughout the course of the 2015-16 regular season with the Grizzlies, Conley struggled in a big way with injuries. He played in 56 total games for the team, averaging 15.3 points, 6.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game. Conley shot 42.2 percent from the field overall and knocked down 36.3 percent from behind the three-point arc.

What would Conley be able to add to the Lakers and could they end up being playoff contenders in the next year or two with him on board?

First of all, Conley would add a much needed veteran presence. Los Angeles has an extremely youthful roster and he would bring playoff experience and could mentor young players. That is something the Lakers need to have in order to build faster moving forward.

Secondly, the skills that Conley would bring to the floor would make the Lakers better immediately. He is a more than capable scorer and is one of the top floor generals in the league. Conley would be an excellent mentor for Russell and could help the young point guards develop even faster.

Could the Lakers contend for a playoff spot in the next couple of seasons with Conley on board? That would depend on the other players that they bring in and how their young talent continues to progress.

Walton certainly believes that he can get the team back to serious playoff contention. He showed excellent coaching potential during his stint as the Golden State Warriors’ head coach earlier this season. Los Angeles is lucky to have a coach like Walton and a front office that will do whatever it takes to make the Lakers great again.

Los Angeles will be looking to make a splash when free agency opens up this offseason. Kevin Durant will be a target, but isn’t likely going to sign with the Lakers. Al Horford could be another option, although he may not be the perfect fit that Conley seems to be.

If the Lakers are able to sign Conley, they would be a much more difficult team to beat next season. It would be very interesting to see how Russell took the demotion to the bench, but he should view it as a chance to learn from one of the nBA’s best point guards.

Expect to hear plenty of rumors surrounding the Lakers as the offseason continues to draw closer. Conley hasn’t been talked about as a target for the Lakers that much, but it certainly seems to be a great fit for both parties. Don’t be surprised if they show interest in signing the star point guard when free agency opens up.

Do you think that the Los Angeles Lakers should look to sign Mike Conley? Would he make them a playoff contender in the next couple years? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[AP Photo/Rick Scuteri]