'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been among the NBA's quietest teams during the opening days of free agency due to their ongoing pursuit of Kawhi Leonard.
The Lakers are believed to be in a strong position to land the reigning Finals MVP, although if Leonard opts to remain in Toronto or head across Los Angeles to the Clippers, the Lakers will be scrambling to fill-out a depleted roster.
However, with more than $32 million available in salary-cap space, the Lakers will have a considerable war chest to tempt the best remaining free agents on the market.
A number of names have been linked with the Lakers over the past few days, and here we will look at the players that are most likely to head to Los Angeles if a move for Leonard fails.
#3 Jabari Parker
Just 12 months ago, Jabari Parker signed a huge two-year, $40 million deal with the Chicago Bulls. Parker was joining his hometown team and his career looked set to take off, but he was soon traded to the Washington Wizards where he failed to make a single start.
Unsurprisingly, the Wizards declined Parker's option for the 19-20 season, although, at 24, he still possesses plenty of talent.
During his five years in the NBA, Parker has averaged more than 15 points per game while shooting almost 50% from the field. The forward also managed to average 20.1 points per game back in the 16-17 season and remains a surprisingly good rebounder.
Needless to say, the Lakers won't want to spend a huge amount of cap-space on Parker, although the former Bucks man is likely to take a pay cut to rebuild his career on a contending team.
#2 Danny Green
Danny Green has attracted no shortage of interest this week, and teams including the Lakers, Mavericks, and Clippers are believed to be interested in signing the free-agent forward.
However, Green is believed to be waiting to see where Kawhi Leonard lands before making a final decision, and multiple reports have stated that the 32-year-old is interested in linking up with LeBron James in Los Angeles.
In terms of what he will bring to the Lakers, Green is both a sniper from beyond the arc and a lockdown defender. He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2017, and while his shooting was somewhat inconsistent during Toronto's playoff run, he was excellent during the regular season.
Green averaged 10.3 points while shooting a career-high 45.5% from three-point range, and his 3-point shooting ability will allow the Lakers to space the floor.
#1 DeMarcus Cousins
Just 20 months ago, DeMarcus Cousins was widely acknowledged as the NBA's best big, and the Kentucky Wildcats product was well on his way to securing a max contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, Cousins' career was derailed by a career-threatening Achilles tear, and while the 28-year-old returned to fitness during his stop-gap season with the Golden State Warriors, NBA teams remain reluctant to offer Boogie a new deal.
The four-time All-Star is believed to be available on a one-year $5.3 million deal, and despite playing on a stacked Golden State roster last season, Cousins still managed averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in just 25.7 minutes per game.
The Lakers will have little competition to sign Cousins, and the center will be motivated by the prospect of contending in Los Angeles while resuming his dominant partnership with Anthony Davis.
