NBA Trade Rumors: Raymond Felton Will Help L.A. Win a Championship This Year

Raymond Felton joining the Lakers would make them an instant championship contender.

According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, there have been talks about trading the Portland Trail Blazer point guard to the Lakers in a trade that would include Steve Blake.

Felton is not having a stellar year with Portland, as he is averaging a career-low 9.7 points per game and is only shooting 37 percent from the field. The Lakers, however, need someone who can distribute the ball at the point guard position. Felton is averaging 6.2 assists per game and will give the Lakers another ball-handler on the team.

Trade talks surrounding the Lakers have focused on huge blockbuster deals that would be sending either Paul Gasol or Andrew Bynum to another team. The Lakers, however, are quietly putting together a solid season as they sit fourth in the Western Conference.

For this season it is key that L.A. keeps their core players in place for another title run. What they need to do is get more depth. Felton would be an upgrade over Blake as he is capable of doing more with the ball. Although Felton is struggling shooting the ball, he is a career 41 percent shooter so it will be a matter of time before he gets into his rhythm.

Another area Felton can help the Lakers is on defense. L.A. is already a top-five defensive team in many categories under new coach Mike Brown. Adding Felton would only improve their defense as he averages 1.4 steals per game.

Also, Felton can add speed to the lineup and help the 29th ranked fast-break offense. The Lakers averaged 8.3 fast break points a game and struggle getting any transition points with their older players. A new player always creates a buzz with the fans and the players. If Felton is seen pushing the ball up the court then it will most likely affect the other players. They would want to match his energy and hustle after every transition opportunity.

The Felton trade to Los Angeles isn't flashy but it gets the job done. If the Lakers can build around what is already a playoff contending team, then they should be able to make a push for the NBA Finals. Players such as Dwight Howard or Deron Williams may still be available after this season is over. As for now, the Lakers need to keep their team together and add some pieces around them to win the championship.