NBA Free Agents 2011: 15 Targets That Make the Most Sense for the LA Lakers

The post-Phil Jackson era officially began today when the Los Angeles Lakers hired former Cleveland Cavaliers head man Mike Brown to take over a team that, despite being swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, still has more than enough talent to compete for a title next season.

After all, the Lakers still boast three All-Stars—Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom—and a roster replete with playoff experience and championship rings.

That being said, the embarrassment of that short series against the Mavs laid bare some serious deficiencies that hindered the team all season, among them poor defense at the point, a dearth of true post depth and a lack of accurate outside shooting.

There's not telling at this juncture how free agency will shake out, if at all, given the tenuous nature of labor negotiations between the NBA and the Players' Association. However, assuming a new collective comes to fruition relatively soon that allows for capped-out teams like LA to make roster adjustments, here are 15 players that would fit in Lakerdom next season. 

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