Potential Point Guard Help in Laker Land

Shapecity · Feb 5, 2010

As the trade deadline nears, the Pacific Division has two teams in playoff position, one going through a coaching change and a pair that seem destined to the high lottery. The following is a look at those five teams and their prospects as February 18th closes in. Note that "Likely to be Moved" reflect players believed to be on the block while "Likely to be Mentioned" may be more of a stretch.

Los Angeles Lakers:
Likely to be Moved: Adam Morrison, Sasha Vujacic
The Lakers are in an interesting position in that they do have a top two record and are coming off a championship season. The team is committed to $91.3 million in contracts this year which balloons up to $113.8 million with the luxury tax.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak would like to ease the burden of owner Dr. Jerry Buss by making an economic move with an expiring player like Adam Morrison to reduce payroll. While last year Kupchak was able to deal away Chris Mihm's $2.5 million contract, Morrison's $5.3 million is trickier to send considering the available cap space/trade exceptions around the league.

The only two teams than can take on Morrison for cash for a conditional second round pick would be the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic - except both are tax payers and similarly looking to cut.

Moving a player like Vujacic, who hasn't lived up to expectations since signing a three-year contract, is also difficult because he's set to earn $5.5 million the following year.

A team would need a vested interest in taking on a Morrison/Vujacic combination. If the Chicago Bulls are unable to find better suitors for Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons - in their quest to open up cap space for at least one maximum contract this season - the Lakers may have an opportunity at the deadline to add a productive (albeit expensive) player in Hinrich.

Kirk has two additional years at $8.5 million a season. That only makes sense for the Lakers if they subtract Sasha's money from the total. L.A. would probably have to take on James Johnson as well ($1.7 million next year) to make the numbers work for Chicago.

It's not a pretty deal but the Bulls would clear an additional $4.77 million which would be enough to make a run at Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, etc.

Call it a last resort for Chicago - and a move that would solidify L.A.'s questionable rotation at the point.

Likely to be Mentioned: Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton
At this point, the Lakers aren't open to disrupting their core. There was some internal debate and initial discussion with the Toronto Raptors on a Bynum for Chris Bosh swap but the Raptors chose to hold onto Bosh at least until the summer - which ended that line of reasoning.

Whether or not the Lakers would have gone through with such a major swap is hard to say. The possibility remains that a sign and trade could be negotiated over the offseason but that's a long way off.

Trading Derek Fisher's expiring contract with Morrison would immediately make an L.A. package more palatable. The word is the team is not open to dealing Fisher. There won't be any wink-wink buy-outs with him returning after a 30-day break.

Luke Walton's contract is expendable for the Lakers but its length is likely prohibitive (three years remaining).

While the Lakers would like to add a guard, they're comfortable sitting with what they have barring a favorable deal. If not, perhaps they wait for a veteran to be bought out like Keyon Dooling of the New Jersey Nets.

Other names might include Chris Duhon, Lou Williams or Jose Calderon.
Click to expand...

Source: HoopsWorld

Shapecity · Feb 5, 2010

Some interesting names from Emplay's article. I'd love the Nets trade rumor to go through. Keyon Dooling can defend speed guards and I've always liked the upside of CDR. Sasha & AMMO are scrubs they belong on the worst team in the league.

DynastYWarrioR6 · Feb 5, 2010

I'd want Kirk first though. From there I'm leaning towards Jose, but his D isn't that great.

Shapecity · Feb 5, 2010

DynastYWarrioR6 said: ↑

I'd want Kirk first though. From there I'm leaning towards Jose, but his D isn't that great.
Click to expand...

I don't think Jose would mesh with the Triangle offense. Raptor fans are calling for his head because of the poor decisions he makes and his matador defense.

I really wish the Lakers signed Juan Carlos Navarro aka La Bomba this past summer. He's the perfect catch and shoot guard this team needs and has a great relationship with Gasol.

I'd also like to get Hinrich, but the Bulls have been winning lately due to his strong play. I'm not sure how available he is anymore.

Lou Williams would be another player from the list above I'd like to acquire for our scrubs.

I want NO PART of Chris Duhon on this team. After watching him miss countless wide open 3's against us he'd be Fisher 2.0

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Potential Point Guard Help in Laker Land

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Potential Point Guard Help in Laker Land

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