NBA: Solving the Lakers Point Guard & Forward Problems with One Painless Deal

The Lakers seem to be in trouble, big trouble.

Kobe Bryant is in win-now mode more than ever before, knowing he needs two more titles to eclipse Michael Jordan’s six total for his career and also knowing he may only have a few more years to do so.

Kobe is also just as famous for his impatience as he is for his insane drive to succeed and those two qualities combined with his extremely high basketball IQ and above average intelligence make for a perfect storm in Laker land, the sort of storm that could lead to mass devastation if the Lakers fail to improve their roster and seriously compete for the title this season.

The Lakers have the best player since Michael Jordan as their starting shooting guard, the second best center in the league, a top five power forward and one of the best team defenses in the NBA and yet they sit at 17-12 and in 5th place in the Western Conference.

Something is wrong, terribly wrong, and it isn't the least difficult to figure out what that "something" is.

As mentioned above the Lakers possess three all-star level players at three different positions and one of the best team defenses in the league, and yet their record is rather abysmal. Either the problem lies with the coaches or with the roster.

Mike Brown is a former coach of the year who led perhaps the most talent challenged conference championship team in history to the NBA Finals less than five years ago. Coach Brown also has the Lakers playing better defense than they have in years and he has earned the respect of Kobe Bryant as well which is nothing to sneeze at.

Coaching is not the problem.

While the Lakers have three star players at three separate positions, the simple fact is that the other two positions on the court, the point guard and small forward positions, are so utterly dreadful and inefficient that the entire team is suffering due to the poor play at those two positions.

Now, please understand, I love Ron Artest, I mean "Metta World Peace," just love the guy. I love his personality, love his big heart, love his team desire to win, and love his defense. I believe he has a place on this current Lakers team and can help them win a title.

I simply believe he is better suited to come off the bench and play a distinct role of defensive stopper and there is nothing to be ashamed of with such a role.

I also like Matt Barnes and his on court antics, maniacal playing style and feel he has a place on this Lakers team and the Lakers would be wise to hang onto him if at all possible. However I also believe Barnes is best suited coming off the bench.

I also have a great deal of respect for Derek Fisher, what he has accomplished in his career and the player and person he has become since being drafted out of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1996. I truly believe that he should, and will retire as a Laker after next season and look forward to him joining the coaching staff or front office in some capacity afterwards.

However, at this stage of his career, Fisher is best served as a locker room leader and mentor to the younger players on the roster, a role that 90 percent of the players in the NBA could not fulfill but one in which Fisher could thrive and be extremely valuable.

Many of you may be asking yourselves, “How does this guy expect the Lakers to land a starting point guard and small forward without trading any of their top six players?”; please allow me to explain.

The fact of the matter is that the Lakers have one of the most unbalanced lineups in the entire league, not unlike the Western Conference All-Star squad which has four point guards (Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker and Steve Nash) and four power forwards (Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge and Dirk Nowitzki), but just one shooting guard (Kobe Bryant) and one small forward (Kevin Durant)!

A balanced NBA roster generally features three players at each of the five positions while the Lakers roster compiled by General manager Mitch Kupchak has five small forwards and amazingly small forward is one of their problem areas.

The good news in all of this is that having five small forwards means they can afford to trade some of them. The even better news is that the Lakers also have a trade exemption worth $8.9 million from the seemingly disastrous Lamar Odom to the Mavericks trade, as well as two first round draft picks in what many draft experts feel will be the deepest draft since 1996 when the Lakers drafted Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Travis Knight.

All of the above said, hope is not lost for these Lakers!

The simplest, easiest, fastest and most painless way for the Lakers to instantly improve their point guard and small forward positions would be to simply have Kobe Bryant move to the small forward position just as Michael Jordan did in his later years and sign J.R. Smith to play the shooting guard position, as well as sign Gilbert Arenas to play point guard.

The Lakers could complete both of these deals without losing a single player, pick or any part of their trade exemption.

The Lakers may not be entirely sold on the idea of bringing in the shoot first, pass second Arenas or Smith and the baggage that comes with them.

I personally would not hesitate in signing either, but I am not the Lakers General Manager. Mitch Kupchak is, and Mitch Kupchak may actually prefer trading for a starting point guard and small forward.

Well Mr. Kupchak I hope you’re reading this article because trading is a distinct possibility as well.

Here are three teams the Lakers could trade with immediately and land both a starting point guard and small forward without losing a single starter...

The Lakers Acquire Ben Gordon, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace from the Pistons

Lakers Trade: Steve Blake, Luke Walton and the Mavs 1^st round draft pick

Pistons Trade: Ben Gordon

Follow-up trade of the Lakers trade exemption and 1st round draft pick for the Pistons Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace

While the above trade proposal may seem lopsided at first glance it is actually extremely realistic.

The Pistons are certainly giving up much more talent than they are receiving, however in doing so, they are also saving themselves over $38 million dollars and receiving two 1st round picks in an insanely deep draft.

When one considers that Ben Wallace has already stated he is retiring after this season and is therefore a mere half season rental and that Ben Gordon is a player that due to his contract and the emergence of Kentucky University rookie Brandon Knight, the Pistons would love to get him "off their books.”

This trade really could be said to be the Lakers trading two first round draft picks and $38 million dollars to the Pistons for Tayshaun Prince.

I truly believe Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars would agree to this trade in a heartbeat as it would allow him to have a veritable top 6 of extremely young and talented players with Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe, Jonas Jerebko and three 1st round draft picks (one of which will be a lottery pick) in next year's draft.

I also believe that while this trade would add over $38 million dollars of salary to the already luxury taxed Lakers, General Manager Mitch Kupchak would pull the trigger on this trade as it greatly improves the Lakers two weakest positions and even adds a quality combo power forward/center with a championship pedigree in Ben Wallace to the mix.

This is one trade that Kobe Bryant would be ecstatic with!

The Lakers Acquire Stephen Jackson and Beno Udrih from the Milwaukee Bucks

Lakers Trade: Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris, Luke Walton and the Mavs 1^st round draft pick

Bucks Trade: Stephen Jackson

Follw-up trade of the Lakers trade exemption and 1st round pick for the Bucks Beno Udrih

The first and perhaps most important thing to note about the above trade proposal is that it will save the Bucks nearly $16 million in salary over the next two years, and perhaps even more if the Bucks can convince Luke Walton to accept a buyout.

This is a facet of the above trade proposal that should not be overlooked or underestimated.

Stephen Jackson and Beno Udrih both seem frustrated with the Bucks and their roles on the team and the Bucks likewise, seem as if they would be more than happy to erase their salaries off the books, especially if they could get something nice in return.

A package containing two nice young prospects and two first round draft picks in an insanely deep draft should do nicely.

The Lakers brass of course should, and I believe would, sign off on this trade faster than Jeremy Lin could score on the team’s current point guards.

Stephen Jackson is not only a winner, solid teammate (according to none other than Tim Duncan), friend of Metta World Peace, respected by Kobe Bryant and formerly coached by Mike Brown, but he is also a player that can create his own shot and score on anybody as well as play lock down defense when motivated.

Beno Udrih is just 29 years old and has been compared to former Lakers great Gail Goodrich and while he has been underutilized this season by the Bucks, it was only one year ago that he averaged 13.7 points and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field, 36% from long range and 86% from the charity stripe in 34.6 minutes per game.

Those stats are Chamberlain-esque compared to the numbers Fisher and Blake have been putting up this season.

Fisher and Blake have combined to shoot 36% from the field, 29% from deep, 78% from the free throw line and score a very bleak combined 7.8 points per 34.6 minutes.

The Lakers Acquire Marvin Williams and Kirk Hinrich from the Atlanta Hawks

Lakers Trade: Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris, Luke Walton and the Mavs 1^st round draft pick

Hawks Trade: Marvin Williams

Follow-up trade of the Lakers trade exemption and 1st round pick for the Hawks Kirk Hinrich 

The above trade proposal is one I’m sure the Lakers have pondered making and may be wise to make in the near future. This is also a trade the Hawks should, and most likely would accept, if for no other reason than to save money on a team that is said to be hemorrhaging the green paper in a very real way.

Marvin Williams is still just 25 years old though, and it seems he has been playing in the league for a decade (seven years actually), and is averaging a very healthy 16.5 points and nine rebounds per 40 minutes, while shooting a fantastic 45% from long range.

Williams also has a solid 45% career field goal percentage and 81% career free throw percentage. Hinrich has been nearly a non-entity since being traded to the Hawks from the Washington Wizards last season, but he has career per-40 averages of 16.5 points, 6.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 38% from long range and 81% from the charity stripe, as well as being known as "tough-as-nails," and a great team leader.

The Hawks may not be interested in giving Marvin Williams away for nothing as he still has solid potential, and is a dependable current contributor, but receiving over $13 million in salary savings, two young players and two first round draft picks in this year’s deep draft should be more than sufficient.