Lakers Rumors: J.R. Smith Is Step in Right Direction for Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers have an interest in J.R. Smith, which should put a smile on every last purple and gold face in L.A. 

The LA Times' Mike Bresnahan reports the Lakers, or more specifically head coach Mike Brown, have reached out to free-agent guard J.R. Smith.  

The Lakers are sitting on an average team led by an aged backcourt that will falter before it gets any better. Derek Fisher has given Lakers faithful a lifetime of memories, but guards are blowing past him with ease. 

Metta World Peace continues to be as taxing on the brain on the court as he is off of it. He is averaging 4.9 points per game and is just 20.6 percent from behind the arc. The man formerly known as Ron Artest hasn't played like his old self for a couple seasons. 

Before we throw a parade in Smith's honor, it's important to read the fine print on any interest the Lakers may have in Smith. 

Bresnahan writes: 

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They can offer him only a comparatively small salary of less than $1 million, a prorated portion of the veterans' minimum, because they are over the salary cap and spent their entire mini-midlevel exception on Josh McRoberts. Smith made $6.8 million last season with Denver.

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You can see right off the bat the Lakers are fighting a losing battle, as the report notes New York, Chicago, Indiana, Orlando and the Clippers are also interested. 

If there is any hope, it would come in the form of Smith's Twitter feed, where he posted this gem:

There is no way of knowing if his excitement is genuine, but that is the hope for Lakers fans. Smith would be a great asset for the Lakers going forward. 

He wouldn't answer every issue the Lakers have, but enough to get this team back to L.A. prominence. With World Peace faltering, Smith could add depth at the small forward position. 

He would also take a great deal of minutes off Kobe Bryant's aging legs. All that would have to be addressed is the point guard position. 

With some luck, this team may actually make a deep run in the playoffs. 

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