Lakers Trade Rumors: Jose Calderon Is a Perfect Addition for Los Angeles Lakers

It's been well-documented that the Los Angeles Lakers are in desperate need of a point guard. Everyone from Rajon Rondo to Ramon Sessions to Kyle Lowry has been rumored to be headed the Lakers' way at one time or another.

However, there is one point guard rumored to be on the trade block that would be the perfect fit for the Lakers, and that the Toronto Raptors' Jose Calderon.

According to the Toronto Sun, the offers have been coming in for Calderon, and the Lakers should be making a push for the seven-year veteran.

The drawback for the Lakers is his close to $10 million salary for the year. But he's only owed $10.5 million next season, and it's an option Lakers' general manager Mitch Kupchak should seriously consider.

Some of Calderon's salary could be absorbed by Lamar Odom's $8.9 million trade exemption, so it comes down to making Toronto a decent offer. It likely would involve a third team, though, as Toronto would be looking for a young point guard in return, which is something the Lakers currently can't provide.

If they can swing a deal, though, Los Angeles gets a steady point guard who's a solid decision-maker and who's put together a solid 2012 campaign by averaging 10.9 PPG and 8.8 APG.

Calderon's the type of guard the Lakers need. He excels at breaking down defenses and finding the open man. If the Lakers find a point guard that can do that, they could thrive the rest of the season.

He's also a solid outside shooter and a tremendous free-throw shooter. Calderon has the ability to keep opposing defenses honest—something the current Lakers guards can't do at the moment.

So while Kupchak has a couple weeks before the trade deadline sneaks up on him, he's going to have to make a decision on where this team is headed soon.

He could do much worse then a guy like Calderon.