The Los Angeles Lakers are the marquee franchise in the NBA, but last year they looked a lot more like the laughingstock. Kobe Bryant signed a ludicrous two-year, $48.5 million contract before last season only to play in a total of 35 games before shutting his aging body down for the entire season with the understanding he would collect another $24 million this year for his swan song.

If paying an over-the-hill Bryant wasn’t enough, their first-round draft pick from last season, Julius Randle, broke his right tibia in the first game of the season, leaving the NBA’s most recognizable brand to rely on Nick Young, Jeremy Lin and Wesley Johnson to pick up the slack. It was an abysmal season for any fan of the purple and gold. But this offseason could prove to be the perfect remedy for a broken Laker-heart. After landing the second pick in the draft and taking heir apparent to Kobe, D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers are now the prime players in the free agency frenzy and could potentially create a fascinating big three in the city of Angels.

Around the league, executives believe the Lakers are pursuing space to offer free agent deals to LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 30, 2015

It’s possible with some promises, backroom handshakes and agreements, the Lakers could land both DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge this offseason to create a shockingly efficient big three in L.A. The biggest hurdle is getting the two players to take one-year, less money deals instead of the max offers for three or more years like they have been reported as wanting.

This is a close to impossible task; both players have been outspoken about wanting to land max offers right away and not gamble with the possibility of missing out on life-changing guaranteed money. It also would require some sacrificing of pride and numbers in search of rings, but if the Lakers’ brass can convince them that the financial benefits are actually more lucrative in the future rather than right now, there could be a glimmer of hope.

The salary cap will increase from $67 million this year to a whopping $81 million next year and then $108 million in 2016-17 because of the new TV deal the league signed. What this means is that both Aldridge and Jordan would actually be able to make significantly more money if they sign a less than max-dollar, one-year deal this year, and then re-sign for the big money, extended years contract next season. This would be possible because Kobe’s $24 million will be off the books.

Of course, this kind of offer and agreement takes a lot of faith, something that pro athletes aren’t all that fond of, especially when it comes to their money. But to think of Russell tossing lobs to Jordan one possession just to see Jordan snag an offensive rebound and kick the ball out to Aldridge for a 10-foot jumper on the next, and doing so in the iconic Lakers uniform no less, is enough to whet any basketball junkie’s appetite. Oh, and there’s also Kobe adding a seventh championship ring to his collection, all while knocking down clutch shot after clutch shot in his final season.

It’s likely that this is just the Lakers’ front office living in “la la” land, but it’s free agency season, which means basketball fans and organizations are allowed to dream.

Douglas Ammon is an NBA Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Who covers all things about the Association, follow him on Twitter @DA76er