With their playoff hopes dashing away, the Los Angeles Lakers might start making some moves on the trading front over the next few weeks, with their eyes set sight on upgrading the point guard position.
Basketball Insiders writer Jabari Davis thinks improving the point guard spot will be a priority for the Lakers front-office moving forward. General manager Mitch Kupchack has been vocal about the need to have an elite playmaker for the past two seasons, leaving the possibility of a move by trade deadline open.
According to Davis, the Lakers might have a handful of options in trying to salvage the point guard of the future. Incoming free-agents Reggie Jackson of the Oklahoma City Thunder & Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns are intriguing prospects, while Michael Carter-Williams might be available as well.
"Honestly, while it wouldn't necessarily prevent them from losing that pick, I would seriously consider pursuing a young guard if I were them. Whether it is trying to find a way to snag a guy like MCW from Philly, offering a former U of A product in Jordan Hill to Phoenix for Dragic (whom I think is gone after this season), or even trying to find a way to steal Reggie Jackson (maybe taking Perkins back in the deal) from OKC," Davis stated during a recent chat session on Basketball Insiders.
"I think that's the move. They've made no secret about looking for a suitable PG for several years now, so it also wouldn't shock me to see them find one."
Yahoo Sports writer Adrian Wojnarowski believed the Lakers acquired Jeremy Lin in a trade with the Houston Rockets last summer for two reasons: To give them financial relief after his $8M contract expires at the end of the season or trade him for a prospect. Either way, Wojnarowski thinks Lin is pretty much a one-and-done player in Lakers town - an idea Davis agrees on.
"If the strategy is to keep the pick, then moving guys like Hill and Lin probably makes the most sense. That way you can slide that playing time to guys like Davis, Black and Clarkson and permit the three of them to gain some valuable minutes in what will likely be a rough second half of the season regardless," according to Davis.
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