Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers Must Make a Push for Gerald Wallace over Summer

The Lakers are competing at a high level right now. Kobe is playing angry, and he is one of the few players that can do that well. However, the Lakers still have room for improvement.

The Lakers, like many other teams, should covet Portland's Gerald Wallace. Wallace has a player option after this season, and he has elected to exercise that option.

While the Blazers will do what they can to retain him, their young core is doesn't have as many expendable pieces as the Lakers do. They are strapped with trying to extend Nicolas Batum, and the way Jamal Crawford has played, you'd assume they want to bring him back. Also, Wallace will be 30 soon, and the Blazers have to ask themselves if they are willing to invest the years it'll take to secure him.

The Lakers shouldn't have those reservations. In fact, the Lake Show should be willing to amnesty Luke Walton, move Steve Blake for a second-round pick and buy-out Derek Fisher to make room.

Wallace is the perfect small forward to play along side Kobe, especially at this stage of his career. He can take on most of the difficult perimeter defensive assignments, he rebounds well and is a great slasher.

It would allow Metta World Peace to play the sixth-man role while opening opportunities for the Lakers young point guards Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock.

The Lakers would start Morris, Bryant, Wallace, Gasol and Andrew Bynum, whose option they'd pick up if he stays healthy. If he doesn't and Dwight Howard isn't traded, they can decline and throw that cash at D12. The rest of the players would have to be veteran minimums, rookies and a mid-level exception player.

That roster would only enhance the defensive-minded approach that Mike Brown is employing, as the Lakers would be one of, if not the top dog in the West.

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