LA Lakers Rumors: Can Rasheed Wallace Really Help the Lakers?

According to Boston Celtics' insider A. Sherrod Blakely, former Celtics big man Rasheed Wallace is preparing to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, but excuse me if I'm not excited.

First Gilbert Arenas, then Allen Iverson and now Wallace?

None of those players can probably help the Lakers much, but the Geriatric Express could be a pretty good nickname if the Lakers manage to sign all three players.

And why not? The Lakers are obviously in trouble and the front office seems to lack any direction, so a deal to sign Wallace would fit right in the team's current scheme of things, since it makes absolutely no sense at all.

If anyone needs any further proof that the Lakers franchise is in trouble, the lack of creativity from the powers that be when it comes to roster decisions should be the icing on the cake.

I'm guessing that Wallace is a stop-gap solution for the Lakers' woeful reserve unit, but has anyone seen Wallace play lately?

During the 2009-10 season, Wallace appeared in 79 games for the Celtics and averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and shot 40 percent from the field.

Those numbers would certainly bolster a Lakers bench that is currently in the running for the league's worst bench award, but could Wallace help the Lakers reach their ultimate goal of an NBA championship?

Not likely.

Wallace may still have a little game and life left in his body, but why not address the team's more pressing need at the point-guard position if the Lakers are so intent on adding a player?

There is little danger in signing Wallace since the Lakers have an open spot anyway—from their decision to waive forward Derrick Caracter—but once again, this move reeks of desperation.

Thursday night's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder proved how far away the Lakers are from a Finals berth right now, but a solid, competent point guard could fix a lot of their ailments.

So the franchise's response is to sign Wallace?

Less than one year into Jim Buss' reign as the Lakers' head man in charge, I am already exhausted from the ineptitude emanating from the team's front office. And with each announced rumor, I feel worse for general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Kupchak has made mistakes in the past when it comes to players, but at least they were all in the best interest of the team.

Can anyone say the same thing for the person making the decisions right now?

Maybe the Lakers have a master strategy for the remainder of the regular season that involves signing Wallace, but considering the lack of vision that has been shown thus far by management, Lakers fans should be prepared for a rough ride after the All-Star break.