The Lakers are a team in need. They could use a decent ball handler. Improved shooting around the perimeter would be nice. Oh hey, while they’re at it, they could add someone who creates shots for others, as well as himself. Maybe if they got all those things they’d win more games, not give up so many leads, and not always need to rely on Kobe Bryant to bail them out.
Defensively, the Lakers hold the number one spot in the league in points allowed for opponent. That and the fact that Bryant is averaging nearly 30 points per game are about the only thing keeping the team over the 500 mark. Despite their impressive defense overall, stick a quick point guard who can weave his way in-and-out of the paint, whether it’s Derrick Rose or Jeremy Lin, they’ll hurt the Lakers every time. Additionally, a rejuvenated Bryant just isn’t enough. When Gasol is Gasol his productivity shows up in the box score. When Bynum isn’t bothered by a double team, he’ll score around 20 points a night. That doesn’t always happen, and when the big three struggle, it only magnifies the inconsistency of their bench.
Yes, the offense is still a problem. The Lakers aren’t making shots because they’re not taking good shots. I’m guessing the team being 21st in points per game and 16th in assists per game is a pretty strong indicator of their poorly executed offense.
But the front office knew all of this coming into the season. Bringing in Mike Brown and an entirely new coaching staff, a different approach to playing basketball on both ends of the floor would need to prompt a concurrent change in the Lakers’ roster.
Give Mitch Kupchak credit for his valiant effort to get Chris Paul. Orchestrating a three-team trade hardly sounds easy. It’s not exactly like selecting players and running them through ESPN’s trade machine. Clearly they had the right idea. Paul would’ve made everyone better, or at least in theory, would’ve given exactly what the Lakers needed to move forward with a brand new coaching staff.
If Paul is no longer an option, then what’s Plan B? Dwight Howard?
Assume the Lakers trade Howard for Bynum straight up. Having another superstar, like Howard, to play alongside Bryant would certainly make the Lakers an interesting team to watch, but it doesn’t address what the Lakers need right now. They’d get a more durable center, probably a more consistent scorer, and a better defender. Howard doesn’t create his own shots unless they’re put backs. Who on the Lakers is going to feed him the ball like Jameer Nelson does on the Magic? When Howard gets double-teamed, he’ll throw the ball to one of the Magic’s sharp shooters on the perimeter. The Lakers, as I’m sure you’re all painfully aware, don’t have a guy who can consistently score on a catch-and-shoot. If Nelson comes packaged with Howard, that’s one thing, but if he doesn’t, the Lakers are back to square one.
With Howard, at least the Lakers have upside for the future, a superstar to carry the team after Bryant retires, and an asset they could use to dangle in front of Deron Williams as an incentive for next season.
Next Page: Is Gilbert Arenas a viable option?
Gilbert Arenas doesn’t solve what plagues the Lakers. But for a team without much to lose and everything to gain, why not take a chance? Okay, so Arenas’ Twitter feed has made a stronger impact than his game has in recent memory, and the Lakers really don’t know how much production they’ll get out of him, or if he’ll integrate nicely (or at all) into their system.
Arenas may be a better defensive option at the point guard position, but he’s not much of a distributor, and the shots he creates for himself aren’t great shots. The last thing the Lakers need is another guard to stall the offense. He’s not the same guy who put up 60 points at the Staples Center while a member of the Washington Wizards, but he’s not necessarily washed up either. Still, he’s a smidgen of the player he once was, and if 29 other teams aren’t foaming at the mouth to get him, there’s reason for it.
Despite all that, he does come on the cheap. The Lakers will likely only be able to offer him the veteran’s minimum, about $1.2 million, and they can always cut him if it doesn’t work out. It all just depends on the direction the Lakers want to take. Do they want to stay on the path they’re currently on, or shake up the roster before the trade deadline?
They could continue to develop Goudelock. The rookie was making a decent impact while he filled in for Steve Blake, but with Blake back in the rotation, he’ll slide back into more of a shooting guard role as opposed to ball handler. He can’t make any progress running the point if he doesn’t get enough practice or playing time in that role.
So much uncertainty surrounds the Lakers.
One thing, however, is for certain, time is running out for the Lakers. If the Lakers can stay healthy, they’ll have as good a shot as anyone in the playoffs. In order to advance in the playoffs, they’ll have to straighten out their offense, and correct their deficiencies. The more time they have to prepare with a new team member, or their current lineup, the better.
The Lakers can choose to take a chance on Arenas, move on as is, or move forward with Howard. Regardless of what they do, they can’t continue wasting precious time.