Lakers Rumors: Deron Williams Wouldn't Solve Every Problem for LA

The latest rumor to hit the Staples Center doesn’t have to do with a certain Orlando Magic center. It’s about a guy that, for sure, won’t be donning the purple and gold this season.

Deron Williams won’t be traded to the L.A. Lakers this season, but signing him as a free agent this summer is certainly a possibility. It sounds great on paper Laker fans, but don’t start counting all your future championships just yet.

The free agent-to-be is clearly unhappy with his current team, the New Jersey Nets, and will be seeking a one-way ticket out of town as soon as possible.

Most people believe it’s the Dallas Mavericks, his hometown team, that would be the odds-on favorite to land him.

But now the Lakers have emerged. Just read his comments made to ESPNLosAngeles.com reporter Ramona Shelburne after walking the streets of LA recently and being showered with support from fans that want him to be a Laker:

"

I've had that since I was in Utah, Laker fans wanting me to come here. It's definitely flattering. I'll address all that when the time is right.

"

It’s a very generic response, and one that will surely get Laker fans excited.

But is he the guy to take the Lakers over the top?

Andrew Bynum (16.5 points, 13.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) is having by far the best season of his career and Kobe Bryant (30.8 points, 5.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds) is playing out of his mind…but that’s about it for the Lakers.

Pau Gasol (15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds) is the master at inflating his stats against weaker defenders and coming up small against strong ones. As we saw last year in the postseason, a physical center can completely take him out of a game at this point in his career.

Forward Matt Barnes (8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds) is a nice piece, but he shouldn’t be starting every game. Having his energy off the bench is the best position for him at this point in his career.

Metta World Peace has fallen off a cliff in terms of production and Josh McRoberts, Steve Blake, Derek Fisher, Darius Morris and Devin Ebanks aren’t getting you anywhere.

Sure, a team with Kobe, Bynum and Williams would make the playoffs. But there isn’t enough help around them.

If the Miami Heat have taught us anything, it’s that seven really good players trump three great ones. In a grueling NBA season you have to have a strong bench and the Lakers don’t have one now…nor would they if they were to sign Williams.

Kobe’s incredible 40-point run was insanely fun to watch, but he’s going to literally collapse on the floor if he keeps that pace up.

Right now this Laker team reminds me of the ones of the post Shaq and pre-Gasol era. Kobe would sometimes singlehandedly beat teams, but when push came to shove, he couldn’t do it alone.

Wiliams would certainly help ease the scoring burden with his play-making abilities…but is he going to guard Kevin Durant too?

I’m not saying D-Will wouldn’t make the Lakers better, of course he would. I’m saying that the Lakers need to completely restructure this team because adding another star at guard is not going to save them in the playoffs against 6’8’ guys like LeBron James and Durant that can do it all.

Dream about Williams all you want; just remember that it’s going to take more than him to get back to the promise land.