Lakers Rumors: 5 Moves LA Needs to Make to Stay Competitive

When the Los Angeles Lakers were swept in the second round of last season's playoffs, it became clear that the team needed to make a move to not just preserve the future, but return them to the top of the West immediately.

So what has been their big move so far?

Gift-wrapping Lamar Odom and placing him on the doorstep of the defending NBA champions.  

Through 22 games this season, the Lakers are only 13-9, and have some questioning if the team is even the best squad in Los Angeles anymore.

Sixth place in the conference may not be worthy of blowing up the roster, but when you consider the troubles that have plagued the Lakers this year, the time has come to make a move if they want to compete for a championship this season. 

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers now for months, and while there has been no big shift in this story, the Lakers' struggles through the early part of the season should be enough to convince the organization to make it happen. 

Andrew Bynum looks good this year, which makes it difficult to sell high when the player is only 24 years old; but between injury problems and a history of letting his emotions get the best of him, you have to wonder if he can ever be the face of a team.

This isn't the center-dominated league that we saw when Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan collected eight championships between them in nine years, but an inside-outside game of Howard and Kobe Bryant would be unlike anything the league has to offer.  

Howard would help bring the Lakers to a level that is not only ready to win today, but at 26 years old, he'd be ready to take on the franchise in the post-Kobe era and continue the championship tradition in L.A.

J.R. Smith

The price for Dwight Howard has been regarded by some—even within the Lakers organization—as too high. 

If the Lakers truly aren't interested in making a major move this season, J.R. Smith should to be the guy the Lakers go out and get.

When you think about what the Lakers need to improve, shooting guard should be the furthest thing from your mind.

Bench play, however, should be one of the first. 

With only three players on the roster (Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum) averaging double-digit points this season, the Lakers need another scoring threat.

His inconsistency is worrisome, but as a complementary player—regardless of who else is on the team—Smith could provide not just scoring, but a spark off the bench and provide the Lakers immediate help.

Deron Williams

If the failed attempt to acquire Chris Paul this offseason was any indication, the Lakers are looking for a serious upgrade at point guard.

With Paul having found a happy home with the Los Angeles Clippers, Deron Williams needs to be the next target. 

The point guard spot has been hard to watch for Lakers fans this season. Through the aging of long-time Laker Derek Fisher, the absence of Steve Blake and the lack of experience of both Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock, the Lakers need a consistent distributor who can score when called upon.

Williams, 27, could very well be considered in his prime—not five years ago or five years from now, but today.

Despite the Nets' dire need for a big man, the Lakers will likely have trouble prying Williams away this season. Although L.A. should push for it before the trade deadline, this summer might just be a more realistic goal if the team wants to try and acquire the superstar point guard through free agency. 

Making a move out of panic and desperation is rarely a good idea. But when the end result gets you an undisputed superstar who can help an organization transition into the future, make it happen. 

Gilbert Arenas

Every major move in the NBA, no matter how good it feels at the time, is a gamble.

This one might take them all.

It seems today, following a disappointing season with the Orlando Magic, that you don't know exactly what you're going to get out of Gilbert Arenas. Whether it be player production or team chemistry, the Lakers have to be careful with this one.

With so many questions, though, already surrounding the point guard spot in L.A., maybe it's time to take a chance.

Arenas, who Lakers coach Mike Brown recently looked into, could come in and provide an instant improvement to the backcourt—if you believe he has anything left.

Once Arenas cleared waivers, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the unrestricted free agent may be interested in joining whichever team eventually acquires his former Orlando Magic teammate, Dwight Howard.

If you're the Lakers, however, think about how well that tandem worked in Orlando.

Averaging a career low in points, rebounds, assists, steals, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage—not to mention being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round—Arenas and the Magic didn't exactly have the "punch" that Magic President Otis Smith was hoping for.

It's true that Howard and Arenas had only 49 games to get acclimated last season, but if you're the Lakers, why put it to the test?

If the Lakers do get Howard, leave Arenas on the free-agent market—you've already got your new piece.

If you can't get Howard in L.A., however, go for Arenas. Take a chance, as he could provide some of the desperately needed backcourt court—as long as you are willing to put talent above chemistry.

Ramon Sessions

If the Lakers are not willing to go boom-or-bust with Arenas, Ramon Sessions could be their man.

Sessions, in his fifth season in the NBA, would not be the splashiest of acquisitions for a team perpetually in the spotlight. For a team that has had point guard issues, though, the Lakers could utilize Sessions by getting him out on the break and dishing the ball into the paint more frequently.

His numbers are down this season from last, and that's likely due to the fact that he's stuck playing behind No. 1 draft pick Kyrie Irving.

Nobody will consider Sessions an one of NBA's elite, but when is the last time the Lakers had an elite point guard on a championship team? 

The goal here is to get better, not sexier. Like Kobe Bryant said when asked about playing on a Clippers-style exciting team, "I like jewelry."