Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott has revealed that opposing players this season have told him during games that they would love to join the franchise next year.
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The Lakers have endured a miserable season this year as they sit just above the Minnesota Timberwolves at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 19-52 record.
Having lost Kobe Bryant to injury for the third campaign in a row, it only further dented Scott’s hopes of enjoying a competitive year as they look ahead to free agency in the summer to strengthen the roster for a playoff push next season.
While the organisation has struggled to attract big names over the last two years, Scott has revealed that he has had players come up to him during games and tell him that they would love the opportunity to move to LA and help the franchise get back to winning ways.
“You have a lot of free agents out there who would love to play for us. They’ve been making it pretty clear,” Scott said, according to Los Angeles Daily News.
“You have guys during the games come by the bench saying, ‘Hey Coach, I would love to be in L.A. next year.’ That makes you feel good there are players out there that want to be here. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’re taking it in a different direction. They know this organization and the history of the organization is going to be back.”
It is difficult to take too much away from Scott’s comments as it is unclear as to the level of talent that is making it known to the Lakers coach that they want to work with him next year.
However, the organisation have made free agency a priority this summer as they look to not only build for the future, but also to put the pieces in place which will allow Bryant to enjoy his last season in the league and potentially make an impression on the playoffs before he calls time on his career.
Given the market in LA, Scott and the front office will need to convince a high-profile name to join them with the added incentive of possibly carrying the Lakers into a new post-Bryant era.
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