Lakers Trade Rumors: Why LA Doesn't Need Blockbuster Trade to Contend for Title

The Los Angeles Lakers do not need some big, fancy blockbuster trade to contend for a title this season. There are multiple ways they can do without that and still be a contender.

We must not forget that even though this Lakers team has aged somewhat, they are still basically the same team that won back-to-back championships just a few years ago.

The three main reasons for that championship run who are still there are Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Granted, the coach and some of the supporting cast are different, but the main ingredients remain.

A Big Time Scorer

We all know how good Kobe Bryant is. He’s one of the most gifted scorers in the history of the NBA.

Individually, he’s playing at a higher level now than he did in his last two title-winning seasons with the Lakers. He has a doctor in Germany to thank for that.

Now, Bryant appears to have visited the Fountain of Youth. He’s averaging 28.8 points per game so far this season, which is the highest of his career since 2006-07 when he averaged over 30 per game.

As far as points go, Bryant is at the top of the NBA right now. He does have to improve in some other areas for this team to really contend, but he will. He’s a champion and he knows what it takes to become one again.

The Most Skilled Tower in the Game

Pau Gasol has been called that many times throughout his career, and it really fits. He isn’t the biggest guy (although he’s pretty big) or the strongest or even the most talented.

However, he does have one of the most polished low-post games in the history of the NBA. This is a guy who, for his career, has averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. Well-rounded, much?

He’s also shot above 50 percent from the field nearly every season of his career and never shot more than 15 shots per game, even when he was the No. 1 option in Memphis.

Gasol is the model of efficiency for a big man, especially when it comes to do a bit of everything to help your team.

He is criticized at times for being soft or weak against stronger teams, but that criticism is based on perception and not so much on fact.

He’s perceived as soft or weak because he scores with a real post game and not with Earth-shattering dunks or alley-oops. He does it the old-fashioned way, and it works. It can still work in the playoffs this season.

 

Dwight who?

Andrew Bynum is a guy whose play this season would have shocked you during his rookie season. That year, Bynum averaged 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, playing just over seven minutes per game.

This season, he’s averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds per game, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. Bynum has gotten so much better over his first six seasons it is just ridiculous.

Much has been compared lately between Bynum and Dwight Howard, with the consensus going with Howard as the better player. This is another case where perception and reputation rule over fact.

Howard’s numbers are better than Bynum’s, but Howard does not have to share the ball with a guy like Kobe Bryant who takes 25 shots per game.

Bynum is more-talented offensively than Howard and is even a little bit longer and taller. He may not be quite as good on defense, but there isn’t as significant a difference as many would have you believe.

Bynum is a championship-caliber center, more so now than he ever has been.

The reason LA doesn’t need a big trade to contend for a championship is this threesome. If they can play well together, which is something they’ve struggled with at times this season, they have enough to beat anyone in the league.

They’ve got a championship-caliber scorer and two championship-caliber big men. Most teams don’t even have one of those ingredients.