Lakers Rumors: Gilbert Arenas Would Be Big Boost to Struggling LA Offense
Gilbert Arenas might be working with bulky knees, but the point guard still has the potential to help the Los Angeles Lakers offense succeed a lot more than Derek Fisher and Steve Blake currently are, and that's why the Lakers should sign him quickly.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports the team attended a private workout featuring Arenas on Sunday:
"In a search to find some scoring for their floundering offense, Los Angeles Lakers officials attended a private workout for guard Gilbert Arenas on Sunday in Southern California, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Two sources familiar with the workout said Arenas moved well and made a positive impression, but there was no sense of how quickly—if at all—the Lakers would pursue signing him to a free-agent contract.
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The Lakers offense simply hasn't lived up to expectations this season. That's mostly because the point guard play from Fisher and Blake has been among the worst in the NBA, with neither guy standing out during their time on the court.
Fisher, a reliable veteran presence for so many years, has been basically useless during the current campaign. He's averaging just five points and four assists despite playing nearly 26 minutes per game, which isn't going to cut it if the Lakers want to be contenders.
Arenas is no sure thing, of course, but his chances of success are much higher than Fisher's. He's only two seasons removed from a season in which he averaged 23 points and eight assists for the Washington Wizards in limited action.
There's no doubting the talent. He's a proven scorer who can be trusted to run an offense. Injuries are another story, though. He hasn't played more than 50 games in a season since 2006-07, but it's a risk worth taking for the Lakers at this point.
If he were able to stay healthy and contribute down the stretch, the Lakers would look like geniuses for giving him a chance. The worst thing that could happen is he doesn't play up to expectations, and even then he's probably more valuable than Fisher.
Los Angeles clearly needs to shake things up a bit before the trade deadline to give itself a chance to make another title run. The trade market has been limited so far, so a free-agent signing seems like an easier route to get something done.
Of all the players available, Arenas presents the most upside. He could really be a game-changer if his legs hold up over the next couple months.
That's why the Lakers should work out a deal. Otherwise, their current malaise is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
