Rumors are out that Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan is a "very likely" free agent candidate to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer as the Hollywood squad prepares for its first season without legendary superstar Kobe Bryant in about two decades.

Bryant is heading into the final seven games of his illustrious career after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat, 102-100, in OT on Wednesday night. As soon as the season is over, the Lakers will most likely plan ahead of the 2016 NBA Draft on June 23rd and the coming free-agency period this July because they did not qualify for the playoffs this year.

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According to Lakers Nation, citing Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding, the 26-year-old DeRozan "may turn out to be one of those free agents" that are "strong candidates" for the Lakers to sign in the summer.

The two-time NBA All-Star is in the third year of his four-year, $38 million deal with the Raptors that would make him a free agent in the summer of 2017.

However, because of the Early Termination Option (ETO) clause in his contract, DeRozan could choose to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and speculations abound that he will do so to have the opportunity to play with the Lakers next season.

There are also rumors that DeRozan is planning on exercising the ETO this summer because he is looking for a more lucrative and long term deal with a big market team, not necessarily the Lakers, as he is entering the prime years of his career.

Meanwhile, speculations have also emerged that the Lakers' 2015 second overall pick D'Angelo Russell could be on his way out of Los Angeles as top team executives were "dismayed" about the video scandal the rookie is involved in right now with teammate Nick Young.

ESPN reported that the Lakers' officials and players are having trust issues with Russell "after a video surfaced in the past week that shows Russell recording a private conversation" between himself and Young, which the latter was oblivious of.

The video, which went viral in social media, "shows Russell filming Young while asking questions about Young being with other women" apart from his fiancée, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Russell is reportedly being isolated by his teammates in breakfast meetings and in the locker room and said to have affected the team's performance on the court as well. Rumors emerged that the 20-year-old rookie could be traded this offseason as a consequence. 

TagsNBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2016, Lakers News & Rumors, Lakers News & Rumors 2016, Los Angeles Lakers, DeMar DeRozan, D'Angelo Russell, Toronto Raptors