With the 2012-13 season concluded (for the Lakers, at least), the brass in El Segundo is already looking forward to next season and what they need to do to fix the copious amounts of problems that befell them this season. One thing they were severely lacking was strong outside shooting, especially from beyond the three-point line. Mitch Kupchak & Co. thought they were able to fix this problem last summer with the signings of Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison, but that clearly didn’t work out the way they were hoping. With Jamison most likely leaving after one season in L.A., Meeks has an option that could end similarly – with him on his way out of town.
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So what’s next?
Our friends over at Silver Screen & Roll (a great Lakers blog for those of you that didn’t already know), have been looking at potential free agent pickups recently, and their latest involves dead-eye shooter Kyle Korver, recently of the Atlanta Hawks. Korver, who shot 46 percent from downtown this season for Atlanta, which looks glorious when compared to the 35.5 percent the Lakers shot from outside this season.
Here’s what Drew Garrison of Silver Screen & Roll had to say about Korver and what he could provide the Lakers;
Korver adds an offensive talent to the roster but does not help the Lakers perimeter defense, another need at the wings. Still, Korver could be a sixth man type and gives vital depth to a position the Lakers lacked through 2012-2013.
Are the Lakers going to dig into their future salary space for an aging Korver? There’s no clear path for the Lakers to land Korver, and with his shooting expertise he should be able to land the kind of contract he’s looking for. It just won’t be with the Lakers.
Obviously the team’s financial restrictions are vast right now. However, if the team doesn’t bring back Dwight Howard (which wouldn’t be their choice) and does decide to use the Amnesty clause on a player like Metta World Peace or Pau Gasol, they could add a player like Korver to their roster. The problem is Korver doesn’t give them enough of an incentive to let Gasol go to bring him in. His outside shooting would be nice, but a multi-year deal for an aging shooter when the Lakers are looking to make a big free agent splash in 2014 doesn’t seem to be part of the plan.
For more of Garrison’s thoughts on Korver and the Lakers’ plans, check out his post on SSR.
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In case you missed it, be sure to check out what Mitch Kupchak had to say about Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant!
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