NBA Rumors: 3 Players the Los Angeles Lakers are currently targeting

The 18-19 season was yet another underwhelming campaign for the Los Angeles Lakers. After an excellent start to the season, LeBron James picked up the most serious injury of his career, and the superstar's absence all but ended the Lakers' hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

However, the Los Angeles franchise will have close to $40 million in cap space available this summer, and the Lakers are looking to make major moves in the offseason. So, ahead of a busy summer, here are three players that could link up with LeBron for the 19-20 season.

#3 Marcus Morris

Marcus Morris has spent the past two seasons in Boston with the Celtics

Marcus Morris will become an unrestricted free agent later this month, and he is expected to draw interest from a number of teams from around the NBA. The Athletic’s Shams Charania notes that Morris is interested in returning to Boston, but suggests that a move to the Lakers could be possible due to the Celtics having more pressing priorities:

Celtics free agent Marcus Morris will have strong interest as a second-tier free agent, with teams such as the Knicks, Kings, Lakers, Clippers and Bulls expected to be in pursuit, league sources said. League sources say Morris remains open-minded about returning to Boston, which wants to bring Morris back but has several summer priorities such as Kyrie Irving.

During the 18-19 season, Morris averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The 29-year-old managed to make an impact as both a starter and a reserve, and he is expected to command a much higher salary than the annual $5 million figure that he has received over the past four seasons.

#2 Chris Paul

Chris Paul endured a mixed second season in Houston

After being eliminated by the Golden State Warriors for the third time in four years, the Houston Rockets have made their entire roster available for trade. Chris Paul is among the individuals that the Rockets are keen to offload, and Sporting News believes the Lakers will make a move for the veteran:

Charlotte and Miami are among the teams that could be interested in Paul. Phoenix is weighing its options at point guard, but there is an outside chance they’d get involved. And keep an eye on the Lakers or Knicks – it’s likely that one of them will strike out in free agency and need a face-saving trade to rescue the summer. Paul is a face-saving trade target.

During the 18-19 season, Paul averaged 15.6 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He is also noted for his long-term friendship with LeBron James.

#1 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is expected to leave the Pelicans this summer

While the Lakers are currently exploring a number of offseason options, Anthony Davis remains the team's prime target. The organization made a huge push for the 26-year-old ahead of the February trade deadline, and David Kenyon of Bleacher Report suggests the team will once again go all-in for Davis this summer:

Priority No. 1 is Anthony Davis. Despite a failed pursuit at the trade deadline, the Lakers will likely try once again this offseason. They'll be competing with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks for Davis - provided the Pelicans' last-minute efforts to keep him are unsuccessful.

Pelicans general manager David Griffin is trying to convince Davis to stay, but the expectation is the trade demand will remain. Landing the six-time All-Star will require Los Angeles to unload some combination of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart - if not all of them.

Davis can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but reports earlier this week suggested that the Pelicans were open to trading him this summer.