Lakers Trade Rumors: Breaking Down LA's Chances of Poaching Point Guard Help

The Los Angeles Lakers will start the second half of their season on Wednesday the same way they ended the first half before the All-Star break—in dire need of an upgrade at point guard, and against a younger, more athletic Western Conference foe.

Okay, so perhaps the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't quite the threat that the Oklahoma City Thunder are just yet.

But the fact remains, LA's befuddled front office is and will continue to be on the prowl for a new backcourt-sidekick for Kobe Bryant as the NBA's March 15th trade deadline draws nearer. Let's have a look, then, at who the Lakers will likely target, using the "Pincus Rule"—a general rule, coined by Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld, that no trade is ever more than 50-percent likely until its completed—as our "ceiling."

Ramon Sessions

According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, the Lakers have been in contact with the Cleveland Cavaliers concerning Ramon Sessions. The 25-year-old point guard clearly isn't going to start for Byron Scott, what with rookie Kyrie Irving playing like he should've been an All-Star and all.

Not that the Cavs are eager to get rid of him or his contract, which pays him roughly $4.2 million this year and $4.5 million next year.

That being said, the Lakers could entice the low-budget Cavs to offload Sessions for a first-round pick and plug him in at the point, where his athleticism and ability to create for himself and others would be a welcome addition.

Chances of LA Landing Sessions: 40 percent

Raymond Felton

Vecsey also points out that the Lakers may be in the market for Raymond Felton, who's been demoted to backup duty with the Portland Trailblazers of late.

And that's no accident, either. Felton has been playing some rather abysmal basketball this season, averaging a career-low 10.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game along with a near-worst 6.2 assists.

Of course, as bad as those stats look compared to Felton's previous output, they'd be welcomed with open arms by the Lakers, who've gotten inconsistent production (at best) out of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake this season.

But would LA give up a first-rounder for Felton, and would the Blazers, still without a permanent GM, make such a deal with the hated Lakers?

Chances of LA Landing Felton: 25 percent 

Deron Williams

There are two scenarios in which Deron Williams might possibly wind up a Laker:

1) Dwight Howard is traded to LA

2) Dwight Howard stays with the Orlando Magic

Both involve Howard not winding up with the New Jersey Nets and, in turn, not teaming up with D-Will as part of Gotham's next great duo.

Should the Nets fail to land Superman before the deadline, they may well choose to cash in their chips on Williams rather than roll the dice with him and Howard in free agency, particularly since such would likely end with Williams signing with his hometown Dallas Mavericks.

In that case, GM Billy King could (potentially) flip Williams to LA in a deal involving Pau Gasol, who, alongside rookie MarShon Brooks, would give the Nets a nifty little nucleus around which to build for their big move to Brooklyn.

And the Lakers? Why, they'd finally have the top-five point guard they've long coveted, even after losing out on Chris Paul.

Chances of LA Landing D-Will: 18 percent 

Kyle Lowry

Speaking of Pau Gasol and deals for point guards, the big Spaniard would've been a member of the Houston Rockets this season had it not been for one ominous pen stroke by commissioner David Stern to kill the CP3 deal.

But while Stern's "basketball reasons" may have redirected Paul to the Clippers, they've hardly halted the Lakers' front office from continuing to shop Gasol.

Neither has it stopped the Rockets from inquiring about him. After all, they're still short a legitimate big man on whose shoulders they can build for their post-Yao Ming future.

Problem is, the Lakers would likely only make such a deal if it involved Kyle Lowry, Houston's 25-year-old near-All-Star at the point. All indications suggest that Rockets GM Daryl Morey has no interest in letting go of Lowry any time soon.

Even for a top-tier big man like Gasol.

Chances of LA Landing Lowry: 5 percent

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