The worst-kept secret in the NBA aside from Dwight Howard’s passive-aggressive trade demands is that the Los Angeles Lakers badly need a point guard.

Derek Fisher is 37 and has the speed of a snail at the point. Backup Steve Blake shouldn’t be playing more than a handful of minutes per game. Instead, they are two of the major factors of this team.

With the likelihood of a deal for Dwight Howard dwindling in recent weeks, the Lakers have to stop dreaming about blockbuster deals and focus on a more realistic option.

Gilbert Arenas has been working out for them, but they can do better. How about Ramon Sessions? The Cleveland Cavaliers backup point guard has been on the Lakers' radar according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard and it’s something GM Mitch Kupchak needs to strongly consider. Sessions, 25, is averaging 10.1 points, 5.7 assists while grabbing 3.2 rebounds.

The concern is that he is shooting a pedestrian 35 percent, but you have to remember Sessions plays on a Cavs team that has few players to help him with open looks.

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Having competent big man can change that.

Sessions excels in a pick-and-roll sort of setup that permits Kobe to play off the ball. Allowing Kobe to freelance is the best thing for the team at this point as it allows him to ease off the gas pedal a bit.

Right now, he is on a collision course with a chance for severe burnout if he keeps up this pace.

And in the end isn’t that the main objective for the Lakers? Make sure your franchise player doesn’t collapse on the court? Make sure he is able to walk by the time the playoffs roll around?

Right now the Lakers are nothing more than a decent team with a second-round ceiling. Adding a point guard like Sessions takes some of the load off Kobe and allows Pau Gasol to take advantage of the open pick-and-roll opportunities that would arise.

Sessions doesn’t care about scoring, which will keep the chemistry of the team intact. He is an upgrade offensive to be sure and is a capable defender.

With two late first-round picks to play with, tossing one of them Cleveland’s way for a 25-year-old that can start on your team is a steal, especially when you consider he has another year with about $4 million owed to him left on his deal that expires in 2013. 

The move won’t make L.A. a title contender, but it does make them a step closer.