Lakers Trade Rumors: Kirk Hinrich Trade Wouldn't Make LA Legitimate Contender

The Los Angeles Lakers may be fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 21-14, but it's clear that they need to make some improvements. They are reportedly interested in Atlanta Hawks point guard Kirk Hinrich, but that simply wouldn't be a significant upgrade.

According to Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD, the Lakers have shown interest in Hinrich, although there isn't any indication of a forthcoming deal. Hinrich would have been a high-impact acquisition a few seasons ago, but at this point he is little more than bench fodder.

To be fair, the Lakers have bench players playing significant minutes at point guard currently in Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, but Hinrich would just be more of the same. Hinrich has been limited to just 17 games due to injury this season, and he is only averaging 4.8 points and 2.5 assists in 19 minutes per contest.

He would obviously receive more playing time with the Lakers, and his numbers would improve by virtue of that, but he is just a run-of-the-mill player. Jeff Teague has done a nice job as the Hawks' starting point guard this season, but he hasn't been anything special.

Despite that, Hinrich has been unable to get into the lineup with any consistency.

From 2004-05 through 2006-07, Hinrich was one of the more efficient point guards in the league, but he fell off the map after that and hasn't been a quality starter ever since. Perhaps running the Lakers' style of offense with Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol around him would help, but he wouldn't suddenly return to his old form.

Point guard is certainly a need, but the Lakers have won multiple championships in the Kobe era without a good point guard. The bigger need is a wing scorer to alleviate Kobe of the massive offensive burden that he has to shoulder night in and night out.

Bynum and Gasol obviously help a lot, but aside from Bryant, the Lakers have very few players who can consistently hit open shots. Because of that, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley ought to be the target, because he is a player who can make a tangible difference.

If the Lakers want a point guard, they would be better off trading for a younger player like Ramon Sessions of the Cleveland Cavaliers or simply signing Gilbert Arenas since it wouldn't cost them any assets.

When you consider that the Lakers are worried about luxury taxes, taking only Hinrich's pro-rated $8 million salary for this season makes even less sense.

The Lakers need to do something in order to be serious contenders with the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference, but trading for Hinrich most definitely isn't it.

Dealing for Hinrich would be an act of desperation, and the Lakers certainly don't want to come off as desperate. Trading for a wing scorer or a legitimate point guard is one thing, but acquiring Hinrich won't help L.A.'s standing in the least.