Lakers Rumors: LA Front Office Foolish to Ignore Frontcourt Issues

Times are tough in Lakerland, and the Los Angeles Lakers' front office looks content to simply sit back and watch—foolishly.

ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne reported as much on Monday:

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The Los Angeles Lakers have no immediate plans to add a free agent big man to help fill in their suddenly depleted front court, a source told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Monday.

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The question is, why?

Dwight Howard is banged up and battling through a shoulder injury, backup forward Jordan Hill is out for the season recovering from hip surgery, and Pau Gasol is likely to miss the next two months with a right foot injury. 

L.A.'s frontcourt is in serious trouble, and the Lakers are foolish to carry on with what they have rather than make a run at a free-agent big man to bolster their rotation. If you ask me, L.A.'s front office is either hopeful of a first-round playoff exit or waving the white flag on this season.

The Lake Show wasn't solid enough to challenge for the postseason even with bigs like Gasol and Hill contributing (20.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game combined this season). Now, without them, and sitting at four games below .500 (24-48) this deep into the season, L.A.'s hopes are all but dashed.  

Even if the Lakers make the playoffs, they will have to beat the Western Conference's best teams on the road, which is asking a whole lot from a flawed team.

With the Lakers' front office content to move forward without making a frontcourt addition, the squad's first and now last hope is Howard, who has proved extremely fragile since landing in L.A. this past summer.

The superstar once worthy of the Superman nickname is clearly not suited to lead the Lakers to the promised land in 2013. Sure, he can still impact a game, but his production (16.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per contest) is way down from past seasons, and his health has hampered his effectiveness on both sides of the floor.

There's still time for the Lakers to shake things up and add a piece or two to their struggling lineup. If they're wise, they will. Otherwise, L.A. is lottery-bound this spring.

One of only nine teams in the league surrendering at least 100 points per game, the Lakers need change and in a hurry.

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