The biggest concern for the Los Angeles Lakers moving forward is in the backcourt. With the re-signing of Ramon Sessions not set in stone and potentially not the long-term answer for the Lakers, Los Angeles is currently weighing their options with some intriguing possibilities.
One of those possibilities, as a short-term fix, is veteran point guard Chauncey Billups according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com:
“The Lakers are targeting a handful of veteran point guards including Chauncey Billups, Jameer Nelson and Kirk Hinrich, the source said.”
Nelson and Hinrich are also solid options for the Lakers, but Billups potentially brings much more to the table.
With the ability to play either position in the backcourt, Billups may become invaluable for the Lakers next season. Both point guard and shooting guard have been issues over the last couple of years with Derek Fisher not cutting it and Kobe Bryant having no viable backup option.
The one major problem with Billups, outside of being 36-years-old in September, is that he’s coming off an Achilles injury. Much like a torn ACL, an Achilles injury can be tough to bounce back from. Not only would a rookie struggle to return to form, but a veteran nearing the end of his career may ultimately have to retire due to the inability to fully recover.
Despite the odds being against him, Billups is determined to return and the Lakers are interested in bringing in another proven winner alongside Kobe and company.
Another option for Billups is signing with the Miami Heat. Before being claimed by the Los Angeles Clippers off of waivers, Billups was adamant about joining LeBron James in South Beach and may still want to head to Miami.
As for the Lakers, the search for backcourt upgrades continues with no telling which players may ultimately be signing or traded to the Lakers before next season. Fortunately, there are many different options out there with the Lakers able to improve despite the restrictions due to the luxury tax.