NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Must Use Trade Exception Before Deadline to Save Season

The Los Angeles Lakers know they must tweak their roster before the trade deadline in order to make a serious run at another NBA championship. Which is why they need to use the $8.9 million trade exception they have from the Lamar Odom deal to land a competent point guard or small forward.

According to Steve Kyler at HoopsWorld, the Lakers are highly active in monitoring who may be available to them over the next month.

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League sources say the Lakers are reluctant to subtract from their roster, especially if it involved core pieces like Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol. Sources say the Lakers’ goal seems to be to try and pry loose [sic] a solid player either at point guard or at small forward using their exception.

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This makes perfect sense, and the team will fail if they cannot get it done. Los Angeles must keep Kobe Bryant, Gasol and Bynum for a championship run, but they cannot carry the squad with both Metta World Peace and Derek Fisher starting.

There is a clear need to upgrade at least one of the positions and strengthen the starting five.

The best option for LA would be to get a competent point guard. Fisher is simply too old to help out on offense consistently and a complete liability on defense. Back-up Steve Blake is not faring any better.

With that nearly $9 million dollar exception, they could scoop up a solid PG to help lighten the scoring load Kobe needs to shoulder and stop constant penetration into the lane.

GM Mitch Kupchak should explore a trade for some of the different point men who have been rumored to be available.

Johnny Flynn, Ramon Sessions and even Rajon Rondo have been said to be on the Lakers’ radar, and perhaps a team panicking or looking to reshape their roster at the deadline could be persuaded into sending a promising player to Hollywood.

LA has been so desperate for a change in their backcourt that they have considered Allen Iverson and are working out Gilbert Arenas.

If they decide to use the trade exception on a small forward, signing Arenas wouldn’t be terrible. If they make a trade for a point guard, then they should definitely explore signing a versatile swingman.

The Lakers can easily bolster their lineup for the postseason; they just need to make sure they get it done and soon.