At 17-12, the aging Lakers find themselves in fifth place out West, with much doubt amongst NBA gurus whether they are considered title contenders this season or not.?
The team has struggled on offense, averaging a meager 92.3 points per game (23rd in the NBA).? There are also glaring holes on the roster, primarily at the point guard position with Derrick Fisher and Steve Blake, as well as at small forward with Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes.?
Additionally, the team has not found a solid replacement for Lamar Odom to play behind Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.?
The rumors of the Lakers trading for a young superstar to help fix the majority of their problems ?are just that—rumors. From “Bynum for Dwight Howard” to “Gasol for Deron Williams/Rajon Rondo,” the truth is that the Lakers seem more and more unlikely to be able to acquire such a top talent by the March 15th deadline.?
We can’t forget about the hype, and controversy around the Lakers potentially signing free agent guards such as JR Smith and Gilbert Arenas.
Realistically, Smith will most likely sign with a team he can start with. As for Arenas, his lackluster performance last season gives Lakers fans little to believe he can turn this team’s fortunes around.?
So with those rumors set aside, here are five players the Lakers may want to consider targeting at the deadline without blowing up the team’s nucleus, and keeping them in the hunt for a title.?
Although the majority are not the marquee players the Lakers are rumored to go after, each player improves the team in some respect without necessarily breaking the bank or dealing a core player.?
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Target: Stephen Jackson—2 years, $19.3 million
Trade: Jackson for Luke Walton and Matt Barnes
Logic: Jackson has produced nothing but headaches for head coach Scott Skiles and the Milwaukee bucks.?
His 11.7 points per game is his lowest since the ’02-’03 season and his 36.5 percent shooting is the lowest of his career. With that being said, there is still little to believe that Jackson doesn’t fit the cliché’ of “not having anything left in the tank.”?
A trade to a perennial contender such as the Lakers could revitalize the 11-year vet. He could be used starting at small forward for the Lakers or become the teams sixth man, moving his former Indiana teammate Metta World Peace back into the starting five.?
For Milwaukee, it’s really all about ridding themselves of Jackson. Barnes will most likely take up Jackson’s minutes and his expiring contract will also clear up some cap space for next summer.?
Walton is a high character veteran who will most likely be labeled as a “locker room guy” for the young Bucks team, until his contract runs out in the summer of 2013.?
Target: Jarrett Jack 2 years, $10.8 million ?
Trade: Jack for Steve Blake and 2012 first round pick (via Dallas)
Logic: Jack is a near perfect fit off the bench as the team’s third guard behind Fisher and Bryant.? He’s having his best start to his career this season with career highs in minutes (35.7) and points (15.2). Although those numbers will surely drop if traded to the Lakers, his playing time will be much more meaningful playing for a contender than a bottom-feeder like New Orleans.??
Jack’s favorable contract and stellar play so far this season makes it difficult for New Orleans to want to part with the sixth year guard.
But replacing him with Blake and a draft pick in this summer’s deep draft is a rational move for the rebuilding Hornets. It’s doubtful that Jack will be in the Hornet’s future plans so moving him while his stock is so high is something New Orleans should consider.
Target: Andray Blatche 4 years, $29.8 million
Trade: Blatche for Steve Blake and Luke Walton
Logic: Similar to Stephen Jackson in Milwaukee, Blatche has proved to be overpaid and cancerous to his team. Yet, It was only a season ago that the 25-year-old Blatche averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.?
On a Wizards team that is in total flux, maybe all Blatche needs is a change in scenery. If and when Blatche gets healthy this season, his versatility and length playing power forward makes him an ideal front court player behind Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum off of the Laker pine.
If the Blatche experiment fails to work under the tutelage of Gasol and the leadership of Byrant, the Lakers could still use the amnesty on Blatche, ridding themselves of his contract over the next three seasons while giving up little for him to begin with.
With Blatche and his bloated contract out of Washington, the Wizards gain more cap flexibility in the coming years while picking up two high character veterans on a very immature team. Blake provides the Wizards with a true backup point guard, a position currently held by Roger Mason Jr. and Shelvin Mack.
Moving Blatche also promotes younger players like Trevor Booker and Jan Vesely into the rotation on a more regular basis.?
Christian Petersen/Getty Images Target: Dorell Wright 2 years, $7.9 million
Trade: Wright for Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks
Logic: The 6’9” long and athletic Wright is an obvious upgrade at small forward over Matt Barnes.
Although Wright is having a mediocre second season with the Warriors, the 26 year old forward provides the Lakers with an improved three-point threat and more tenacious defender at small forward.?
Playing next Gasol and Bynum in the front court along with Kobe Bryant on the perimeter will give Wright ample opportunities to spread the court and knock down open threes. His size and versatility allows him to defend scorers out West from Kevin Durant to Dirk Nowitzki.?
Coming off a career season in his first year with the Warriors where Wright averaged 16.4 points per game and knocking in 194 three pointers, Wright has taken a step back this season. Part of the reason is new head coach Mark Jackson’s choice of playing newly acquired Brandon Rush and emerging rookie Klay Thompson at the three spot.
Moving the remaining two years of Wright’s contract for the expiring contract of Barnes and a young prospect like Ebanks creates more cap room for the Warriors and more minutes for Thompson and Rush.?
Target: Steve Nash
Trade: Nash and Josh Childress for $8.9 Trade exception (via Dallas), Luke Walton, Steve Blake, Darius Morris and 2012 first round pick (via Dallas).?
Logic: With the Chris Paul trade-veto debacle and the unlikely shot of acquiring New Jersey’s Deron Williams, the aging Lakers may choose to turn to acquiring the 37-year-old Nash.
By using the trade exception and draft pick acquired in the Lamar Odom-to-Dallas trade as part of the package and agreeing to take on the remaining four year, $27 Million contract left on Josh Childress’s deal, the Lakers could convince the Suns to deal their two-time MVP.?
Despite his age, Nash is currently leading the league in assists (10.5) and will be asked to do much less playing with the likes of Bryant, Gasol and Bynum then he asked in Phoneix
With an added pick in a deep draft this summer, the Suns are acquiring former Arizona Wildcat standout Walton and a veteran point guard in Blake to help mentor a potential rookie guard in this summer’s draft.
In addition, they get a look at former first round pick Darius Morris.
Barring another team offering a better package, a deal like this for Nash helps ownership save face by moving Nash to a contender.? Additionally, packaging Nash with a bad contract like Childress will help the franchise excel the rebuilding process.?
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