2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe Are Top Restricted Agents! Which One Can Lakers Get?

The 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions are being explored as we wait for the Finals. The young, restricted free agents are a gold mine. Which one can the Lakers get?

The Los Angeles Lakers may have voluntarily dropped out of the Carmelo Anthony race. They want younger players who will be the future of the franchise. The restricted free agent market is still very rich with talented players but they may have to overpay them. The Blue and Gold are desperate for talent, so anything is possible.

Basketball Insiders has some suggestions:

"Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns: There is almost no scenario in which Eric Bledsoe is not matched by the Phoenix Suns. There have been some that have wondered if the Suns would match a full max contract offer and the answer there is very much yes. The Suns likely will set the bar themselves with an offer simply to move the process along. It's doubtful that Phoenix set the price at max, which should be just at $15.75 million, but if someone else put that number on the table its highly likely the Suns match it."

This might be tricky because Phoenix also has cap space to match. But if the Suns want to target a max contract player, they may let him walk as they already have a star point guard in Goran Dragic.

"Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons: The Pistons continue to say that Greg Monroe is not going anywhere, that a new deal for him is very likely and that they would match offers if it gets to that point. Monroe's offer value isn't at all crazy and the Pistons have the flexibility to match Monroe all the way to the max. The question is will anyone really put a $15.75 million first year offer on the table for him?

There is a reality to a max offer sheet. It's easy to say you would match it, but would the Pistons really do it?"

The Lakers will most probably target Monroe with the max deal. This will exert pressure on the Pistons because they will also need the cap space to keep Andre Drummond next year. Monroe would be good big man to build around and the lure of LA might have him requesting a sign-and-trade arrangement.

But the Lakers would be wary of giving up their very rare assets when they can sign outright. If the Pistons do try to match, the Lakers would look elsewhere.