Los Angeles Lakers news and rumors reveal that the team is looking at adding LaMarcus Aldridge to the roster when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant is pushing Jeremy Lin to bring his "A" game.

Long-time NBA reporter Marc J. Spears dished Los Angeles Lakers news and rumors to Oregon Live as he expects the team owner Jim Buss to throw a lot of money to snag the 6-11 forward.

"I see him as one of the elite --- not only power forward's in the game, if not the best --- one of the elite players in the game," the reporter said. "The one thing about LaMarcus is that he doesn't have that 'wow' game where he's going to dunk on you 300 times or shoot threes from half court or do that little dance. He just gets it done and at the end of the game you see it in the box score."

Spears went on to describe LaMarcus Aldridge as franchise star or "somebody who will have his jersey in the rafters one day."

"I think Portland has to do everything in its power to make sure he's happy, and that he stays. Where could he go? You'd think a place like the Lakers. There's going to be some franchises that throw some money at him," he added.

In other Los Angeles Lakers news and rumors, Kobe Bryant reportedly expects so much from Jeremy Lin now that the team has started off to a slow start.

During their blowout to the Suns, Jeremy Lin only scored six points and one assist, which prompted Kobe Bryant to tell him to run the offense.

"I want it to be [Lin's] role to orchestrate the offense, call the right things, get guys in the right spots. It's going to take a little getting used to for him, because it's different in the past. But that's what I want from him," he said.