Lakers Rumors: Top Options for LA to Pursue in Trade Deals

As we near the trade deadline, trade rumors and speculation are really something you can't avoid right now. However, right about now, it seems like everyone is all talk.

As far as the Lakers go, many fans are awaiting that blockbuster trade they always seem to get done when you finally think they are down and out for the count. After an impressive win against the Miami Heat on Sunday in which they simply used brute strength and size to outplay the Heat, the Lakers have now dropped two straight to teams I wouldn't exactly call championship contenders.

These kind of losses, to the Pistons and the Wizards, are the kind of losses that make people think that the Lakers must make a trade in order to be successful. Yet on Sunday, many people were ready to deem Kobe and company the best team in the league.

They were the best team of that hour, but the Lakers have been quite inconsistent this year and whether it be because of Mike Brown's inability to make light and take control of the situation he has been put in or Kobe's need to take 31 shots to score 30 points, something has got to give.

That being said, I am here to discuss the top trade options for this struggling Laker team.

Although I am a firm believer in the fact that you don't just break up a frontcourt tandem like Gasol and Bynum for nothing, I do realize that Gasol is the Lakers' most attractive and sought-after trade piece.

The deal that makes the most sense for the Lakers is with the Rockets. That is if they can convince Houston to throw in Lowry with the deal.

Thus far, the Rockets and the Lakers have not come to any terms, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, they can agree on, but as the season progresses, teams are starting to feel the pressure to win—especially the historic winning franchise of Los Angeles.The reason this trade makes the most sense for the Lakers is because it gives them everything they need. An upgrade at the point guard position in Kyle Lowry, another scorer and threat on the wing in Kevin Martin and a player to fill the hole at the 4 in Luis Scola. 

There are some quick fixes out there that would not involve trading away Gasol. Lately, there have been rumors swirling, according to Chris Haynes of cssnw.com, about the Lakers' interest in Raymond Felton.

Felton is far from an elite PG, but he is definitely a solid guard in the NBA today who is playing some good basketball as of late after gaining his coach's respect and starting spot back. If the Lakers could simply dump off their first-round pick for Felton, it's a move they ought to make.

There were reports last week of the Lakers turning down a trade for Michael Beasley (via the LA Daily News). Why they did this, I do not know. Beasley is one of the more versatile players in the NBA today who, when given the opportunity, has shown he can produce. He is not in a good spot in Minnesota considering the influx of even younger talent, but he could provide some great offensive production off the iffy and unproven Lakers bench.

If the Timberwolves do throw this deal at the Lakers one more time before the trade deadline, LA would be foolish to say no again. GM Mitch Kupchak didn't like how the numbers worked out, but he better throw in a player like Matt Barnes or Metta World Peace and maybe even rid himself of a contract like Walton in order to bring in young talent like Beasley.

Lastly, I know there are you Lakers fans out there still hoping to win the Howard sweepstakes. Just stop. Not only do you not want to win due to the fact that he's willing and ready to screw the Lakers over this summer, but also he is not worth giving up the unmatched low-post tandem of Gasol and Bynum. That's real.

I know you Lakers fans are anxious. I know you want to see yet another miraculous and season-salvaging trade get done once again. But in reality, trade or no trade, the Lakers will be fine.

Kobe will figure it out, he has to. The math is not hard. When you have to take 31 shots to score 30 points while your two seven-footers basically go unused throughout the whole game, there's a problem there.

The Lakers have the right personnel to get things done down the stretch, they've just got some tinkering to do and some issues to handle that will be much more accessible when the trade deadline passes.