The first player that comes to mind that would greatly increase the chances for the Lakers to be title contenders again is Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. If the Lakers would like to have a fighting chance against the likely Finals matchup against the Miami Heat, who are considered to be 5/2 favorites by the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, they will need to make an investment at the point guard position by acquiring a MVP-caliber player such as Paul.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EVfuFOTsZU&feature=fvst
Paul demonstrated his amazing leadership skills and killer instinct against the Lakers this past postseason in the first round when the Lakers took the series 4-2. But on top of his great play against the Lakers, he has proven to be one of the best point guards in the NBA since entering the league in 2005. Paul has grown dramatically in his short career, with his stellar passing ability, shooting range, and consistent free throw shooting. These reasons are just a small fraction as to why the Lakers could very much use his services as their point guard.
The Lakers have always struggled against speedy point guards, demonstrated by the play of J.J. Barea in their loss against the Mavericks during the 2011 Western Conference Semifinals. Their defense cannot adjust to the high-speed of these guards, and the fact that Derek Fisher is entering his 16th season is a sign that his body cannot keep up with the surge of younger guards in the league. Paul would provide the defensive speed that the Lakers have lacked against these types of guards, and he would also bring to the Lakers, his lightning quick hands, which has helped him average 2.4 steals throughout the course of his career.
