The Lakers must decide whether to trade now and save the season, or prepare for the NBA draft lottery.
Nothing seems to be going in the right direction for the Los Angeles Lakers. “Nothing” meaning: Kobe Bryant still sidelined, every point guard option other than Kendall Marshall is injured, and the Lakers have lost 11 of their last 12 games.
With that being said, the Lakers need to consider making a trade for now or for their future. Either string together a bunch of wins now or plan for a top pick in the NBA Draft. Here are a few options the Lakers can consider in a trade.
1. Evan Turner- The Lakers can trade for the star small forward/guard who is averaging 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Earlier in the year there were reports that Turner was going to be traded for Dion Waiters.
If the Lakers were to get Turner who will be a free agent this upcoming season, he could fill the small forward position and act as a point forward similar to Andre Igoudala. While it is certainly a long shot, the Lakers could attempt to trade Pau Gasol and a wing like Wesley Johnson or Xavier Henry in exchange Evan Turner and Tony Wroten.
2. Iman Shumpert- A few weeks ago there were reports that the Lakers had contacted the Knicks about Shumpert.
The reports centered around Gasol being traded for Shumpert and Tyson Chandler. Shumpert would give the Lakers a top perimeter defender and someone that can stay in front of the elite guards in the West such as Russell Westbrook.
3. Kevin Love- Only every Lakers fans’ dream. While there are reports that he simply loves LA, his one year of college ball was played at UCLA, so it’s not entirely surprising. Love is the best power forward in the NBA and would bolster any roster. There are rumors that he is favoring the Lakers and Knicks when he becomes a free agent in 2015.
If Love really wants out of Minnesota, why not trade for him now. A deal involving Gasol and another Laker isn’t enough for Love, although a 2014 draft pick could make it work.
The Lakers need to make a move now or “tank” their season. They are currently tied for the 23rd best record in the league, most likely placing them seventh or eighth in the upcoming draft. This position certainly sets them up for a strong pick in in what looks to be an excellent draft. But why not go for a top lottery pick if the playoffs aren’t in the cards. The word “tank” doesn’t exist in a Lakers fan’s vocabulary, however it might be the best plan for this rebuilding season. The Lakers can use that pick coupled with major free agent signings to give Kobe Bryant a strong supporting cast for his final championship push.
Copyright 2013 SportSpeak LLC, all rights reserved. For more coverage, follow @SportSpeakLA and @SportSpeakOC on Twitter.
