The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be keen on pursuing Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes in free-agency this summer.

The 24-year-old combo forward just finished the fourth season of his four-year, $8.7 million deal with the Warriors that has a qualifying offer for a fifth season if he accepted. He did not and so the former North Carolina standout is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and several NBA teams are said to be on the lookout for his availability soonest.

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Golden State actually offered Barnes a four-year, $64 million extension before the 2015-2016 season started last year, but he turned it down, which is believed by NBA pundits as a gamble by four-year pro.

In light of his recent lackluster performance in the 2016 NBA Finals, it seemed like his gamble has not paid off and teams may not see him as a max-salary worthy player that he initially planned to be when he enters free-agency in a couple of weeks.

However, Bleacher Report noted that the Lakers are still "one of many teams with interest in Barnes and may be willing to pay him as much as $20 million per season".

With the Warriors expected to make big changes after failing to defend their championship this year, Barnes may become one of the casualties in the battle's aftermath.

If that is the case, then the 2013 NBA All-Rookie First Teamer should take advantage of the $20 million offer he might be receiving soon.

SB Nation earlier reported that the Lakers are indeed "expected to pursue" Barnes during the free-agency period even before his championship debacle with the Warriors from Games 5 to 7 of the Finals.

The report said that Barnes is a "fallback option" to fill up the team's void at the small forward spot (left by the now-retired Kobe Bryant) if Los Angeles fails to lure Kevin Durant to their side this summer.

Barnes could join a young and hungry core group in LA, namely Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and D'Angelo Russell, plus either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram depending on who will they select as the no. 2 overall pick on Thursday, and will surely be one of the team's key players that also has a leadership role.

TagsNBA Free-Agency Rumors, NBA Free-Agency Rumors 2016, Lakers free-agency rumors, Los Angeles Lakers, Harrison Barnes