If ever there was an NBA team that needs some results quickly, it would be the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sixteen world championships, multiple dynasties, a rabid fanbase and a pantheon of legends with names like Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Shaq and Kobe Bryant will do that to you. But getting back to their former glory will not be easy, especially with an aging Bryant and Steve Nash and a remodeled roster filled with question marks trudging into the 2014-15 NBA season.

Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer are nice offseason additions for the Lakers, but when talking about improving drastically from the 27-55 record that saw them finish dead last in the Pacific Division and well out of NBA playoffs contention, Los Angeles should be able to move the needle a little bit in at least returning to the playoffs. Though, Lakers fans shouldn't expect this team to be challenging Tim Duncan's world champion San Antonio Spurs for the keys to the Western Conference kingdom. It's just not going to happen.

The Lakers have always prided themselves on being the best, and with some expiring contracts coming off the books next summer, the Lakers will have plenty of room to improve with a little shopping spree on the NBA free agency market. The market has brought them great fortune in the past, such as when they lured Shaquille O'Neal from Orlando in 1996, but it has also caused them great pain, like when their acquisition of an aging Nash as part of their busy 2012 offseason went from big signing to big bust after Nash sustained a slew of injuries that have cut short his playing time over the last two seasons.

Next summer has a younger, richer crop of free agents to be had, and the Lakers should be setting their sights on these stars if they want to bring NBA title gold back to the Staples Center:

LaMarcus Aldridge

This one's a no-brainer if you're the Lakers. Aldrige keeps getting better every year, adding a more physical game to his dangerous offensive attributes (23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds last season) while moving very nimbly for a 6-foot-11 big man and adding a lethal mid-range game. He isn't a big shot blocker, but he's the kind of young, viable piece that a franchise can build around. Aldridge, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, reportedly wants to stay in Portland, but the Lakers have cash, history and Kobe Bryant to offer. Even with the sensational Damian Lillard, small-market Portland may not be able to compete with that.

Kahwi Leonard

Leonard's stock rose through the roof thanks to his thunderous NBA Finals MVP-winning performance in the Finals in June. That puts the Spurs in a bit of a pickle, as they face the probability that teams will be offering big time money for the young and talented small forward. The Lakers' deep pockets could easily make a max bid for the man who beat LeBron James' Miami Heat, putting the Spurs in the position where they have to decide if the evolving -- but not fully matured -- talents of Leonard are worth tying a big chunk of their salary cap space to for the next few years. Leonard is a solid rebounder, can slash very nicely and adds depth in the defense department and his paw-sized hands would be a good place for the Lakers to put their future in, assuming they're willing to break the bank on him.

Rudy Gay

It's odd that a player as talented and dangerous as Gay can't seem to find a home, but believe it or not, the lethal scorer and solid defender has been bouncing from team to team over the last two seasons. Gay would be a nice addition to the Lakers' frontline, providing Kobe with a solid No. 2 option for as long as he would be able to play. Adding a legitimate scoring threat to the offense wouldn't be a bad thing, either. However, Gay's more of the solid secondary scorer for a team. If the Lakers want to get back to the Promised Land of the NBA Finals, they're going to have to give him another star to work with, either via trade or the free agent market.

Rajon Rondo

If the Lakers want to win a world title again, who better to bring on board than the guy who helped their hated rival Boston Celtics win it against them in 2008? One of the best playmakers and point guards in the game today, Rondo has it all with experience, brilliant court vision, toughness and offensive savvy necessary to run an offense. He's good, and he makes everyone around him good. The Celtics say they want to hold onto him, but with dim future prospects, Rondo might be tempted to look elsewhere. The Lakers, much like the New York Yankees of MLB baseball, have only one goal each year: win the NBA championship. If Rondo wants to get back to the Finals, heading towards a franchise with that winning philosophy could sound pretty tempting.

Marc Gasol

The 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has professed his desire to stay in Memphis, but will dollars outweigh that desire? Gasol took the Grizzlies to the Western Conference Finals a season ago and has been a major cog in the defensive juggernaut that the Grizzlies have built over the last four seasons. Add that with a nice low-post game, torrid rebounding skills and a decent mid-range shot, and you have the kind of player that can be a rock for a team. His brother, Pau, won two titles and went to three Finals with the Lakers during his stint in LA. Could following the same path earn Marc his first NBA ring?

For up-to-date sports news, scores, and more, follow Latin Post Sports on Twitter

FOR MORE NBA NEWS AND NBA TRADE AND FREE AGENCY UPDATES, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT LATIN POST.COM'S SPORTS PAGE

WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM ANGEL AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT YOU THINK? LIKE HIM ON FACEBOOK

Related