How the Lakers can reload
L.A. should pursue Dwight Howard, others on trade market to make another title run
By Ryan Corazza
ESPN Insider
The last time we saw the Lakers on the court?
Andrew Bynum was ripping off his jersey after extending a forearm shiver to J.J. Barea en route to a Dallas Mavericks sweep of the two-time defending champs in the second round of the 2010-11 playoffs.
Not a good look.
There now exist two roads for the Lakers. The first? Stay the course. After all, this team, as currently constructed, is still a title contender.
The other? Blowing it up and retooling a squad that ain't getting any younger and could use a boost in athleticism. That's the option that we're going to explore here:
Step 1: Kill two birds with one trade
The Lakers are in a bit of a pickle, insomuch as impact trade assets are limited and a bloated payroll -- currently set for $93 million in 2011-12 and $91 million in 2012-13, according to Sham Sports -- likely won't leave them much wiggle room to land any free agents of note without a serious salary purge, especially if the cap shrinks.
So the trade route -- one in which the Lakers are going to have to give up value to get value in return -- might exist as the best option by which to shake things up in L.A.
<OFFER>
The Lakers have held an advantage over just about every frontcourt in the league the past few seasons due to the combined size and length of Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. It would be a bit foolish to break up this trio just for the sake of doing something different. However, there's one big man in the league for whom it would be worth it to break up this group: Dwight Howard.
Yes, yes: You may have grown tired of the Howard-to-the-Lakers chatter by now. And Magic GM Otis Smith might be more inclined to ride into free agency with Howard in 2012 and take his chances instead of dealing him. Still, if the Lakers roped the Atlanta Hawks into such a trade for Howard, they may also be able to fill another need in the backcourt.
One glaring weakness for the Lakers that's emerged over the past two seasons is their inability to defend athletic, quick point guards. (Exhibit A: Last season's playoffs, where they had little answer for both Chris Paul and Barea.) But by including Atlanta in a three-team swap that would land them Howard, the Lakers could also potentially add Kirk Hinrich, a rumored target of the team at the 2009-10 trade deadline, a player the Bulls eventually dealt to Washington to clear cap space for the much-hyped summer of 2010 free-agency class.
Hinrich has a reputation as a solid perimeter defender, and also has the ability to play both guard spots on offense, making him a versatile pickup. The addition of Hinrich could also give new coach Mike Brown the onus to start him over Derek Fisher, although having them split time is another option.
The deal: Howard, Hinrich and Chris Duhon to the Lakers; Josh Smith -- a rumored trade chip since the season ended -- and Bynum to the Magic; Odom, Steve Blake and Daniel Orton to the Hawks.
This would still leave the Lakers with Gasol. And a starting frontcourt of the Spaniard and Howard would be a devastating twosome for opponents -- arguably the best in the league.
Step 2: Find some depth
The contracts of frontcourt veterans Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith will be up after the 2011-12 season. Odom will be gone. As such, the Lakers will need to find some depth up front.
A few frontcourt names the Lakers may be able to nab for the minimum or midlevel exception -- should it exist in the new collective bargaining agreement -- include Hilton Armstrong, Kwame Brown, Troy Murphy, Josh McRoberts, Aaron Gray and Joel Przybilla.
And with Shannon Brown deciding to opt out of his contract and head for 2011 free agency, it's sounding like his days in L.A. could be done. So the Lakers may also need to pick up another guard beyond Hinrich and Duhon in this makeover.
Bottom line
The duo of Gasol and Howard up front along with the addition of Hinrich should continue to keep the Lakers in the mix out West. And if Kobe Bryant is able to keep on plugging despite a third surgery on his right knee this offseason, such a combination of players could aid in him landing a sixth NBA championship ring.
L.A. should pursue Dwight Howard, others on trade market to make another title run
By Ryan Corazza
ESPN Insider
The last time we saw the Lakers on the court?
Andrew Bynum was ripping off his jersey after extending a forearm shiver to J.J. Barea en route to a Dallas Mavericks sweep of the two-time defending champs in the second round of the 2010-11 playoffs.
Not a good look.
There now exist two roads for the Lakers. The first? Stay the course. After all, this team, as currently constructed, is still a title contender.
The other? Blowing it up and retooling a squad that ain't getting any younger and could use a boost in athleticism. That's the option that we're going to explore here:
Step 1: Kill two birds with one trade
The Lakers are in a bit of a pickle, insomuch as impact trade assets are limited and a bloated payroll -- currently set for $93 million in 2011-12 and $91 million in 2012-13, according to Sham Sports -- likely won't leave them much wiggle room to land any free agents of note without a serious salary purge, especially if the cap shrinks.
So the trade route -- one in which the Lakers are going to have to give up value to get value in return -- might exist as the best option by which to shake things up in L.A.
<OFFER>
The Lakers have held an advantage over just about every frontcourt in the league the past few seasons due to the combined size and length of Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. It would be a bit foolish to break up this trio just for the sake of doing something different. However, there's one big man in the league for whom it would be worth it to break up this group: Dwight Howard.
Yes, yes: You may have grown tired of the Howard-to-the-Lakers chatter by now. And Magic GM Otis Smith might be more inclined to ride into free agency with Howard in 2012 and take his chances instead of dealing him. Still, if the Lakers roped the Atlanta Hawks into such a trade for Howard, they may also be able to fill another need in the backcourt.
One glaring weakness for the Lakers that's emerged over the past two seasons is their inability to defend athletic, quick point guards. (Exhibit A: Last season's playoffs, where they had little answer for both Chris Paul and Barea.) But by including Atlanta in a three-team swap that would land them Howard, the Lakers could also potentially add Kirk Hinrich, a rumored target of the team at the 2009-10 trade deadline, a player the Bulls eventually dealt to Washington to clear cap space for the much-hyped summer of 2010 free-agency class.
Hinrich has a reputation as a solid perimeter defender, and also has the ability to play both guard spots on offense, making him a versatile pickup. The addition of Hinrich could also give new coach Mike Brown the onus to start him over Derek Fisher, although having them split time is another option.
The deal: Howard, Hinrich and Chris Duhon to the Lakers; Josh Smith -- a rumored trade chip since the season ended -- and Bynum to the Magic; Odom, Steve Blake and Daniel Orton to the Hawks.
This would still leave the Lakers with Gasol. And a starting frontcourt of the Spaniard and Howard would be a devastating twosome for opponents -- arguably the best in the league.
Step 2: Find some depth
The contracts of frontcourt veterans Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith will be up after the 2011-12 season. Odom will be gone. As such, the Lakers will need to find some depth up front.
A few frontcourt names the Lakers may be able to nab for the minimum or midlevel exception -- should it exist in the new collective bargaining agreement -- include Hilton Armstrong, Kwame Brown, Troy Murphy, Josh McRoberts, Aaron Gray and Joel Przybilla.
And with Shannon Brown deciding to opt out of his contract and head for 2011 free agency, it's sounding like his days in L.A. could be done. So the Lakers may also need to pick up another guard beyond Hinrich and Duhon in this makeover.
Bottom line
The duo of Gasol and Howard up front along with the addition of Hinrich should continue to keep the Lakers in the mix out West. And if Kobe Bryant is able to keep on plugging despite a third surgery on his right knee this offseason, such a combination of players could aid in him landing a sixth NBA championship ring.
