Lakers Rumors: Why Ramon Sessions Is Superior Option to Raymond Felton

A potential trade for Raymond Felton is not what will help the Los Angeles Lakers get back to their championship-winning ways. However, a trade for Ramon Session will do that for the Lakers.

Felton does not provide the Lakers with the things they need out of the point guard spot any more than the last Portland point guard they acquired, Steve Blake.

Sessions is producing right now off the bench for Cleveland. A mark of any good point guard is that they can make the guys around them better no matter how short their time on the floor is. Sessions is that guy.

Felton has been a serious product of the Mike D’Antoni offense from when he was in New York. That season, he averaged 17 points and nine assists per game. He’s never been close to replicating those numbers anywhere else.

Meanwhile, Sessions produces more than Felton in fewer minutes. Right now, Sessions is averaging the same amount of points per game (10) and nearly the same amount of assists (0.8 fewer per game) playing seven less minutes per game and coming off the bench.

He has been pretty consistent with his numbers over the years, especially in the key areas of scoring and dishing.

Sessions is also a better shooter from the field, from the three-point line (42 percent to 24 percent) and from the charity stripe than Felton. He’s taller, a better defender and a better guy off the court.

Sessions has been a big of a journeyman so far in his career, which isn’t a disadvantage because Felton has been the same. Sessions has no character issues off the court, while recent reports say that Felton and teammate Jamal Crawford have led a mutiny against Portland head coach Nate McMillan that could cost him his job.

The Lakers do not want a guy like that in their locker room. Not that they couldn’t handle it, but why should they have to when they can get Sessions?

Sessions is a better option than Felton in every single way, and that even holds up when talking about their salaries.

Right now, Felton is getting $7.56 million for this season and is a free agent in July. Sessions is making around $4.5 million each year, but won’t be a free agent until 2013.

With Felton, the Lakers have to worry about losing him after the season or re-signing him. Sessions is guaranteed to be there until at least next summer, and would probably stay if the Lakers have success.

Plus, Sessions can probably be had long-term for less money than Felton, whose reputation as a good point guard has been somewhat inflated.

Age isn’t a big issue between these two. Sessions is 25, while Felton is 27. Both are young compared to the players the Lakers have, but Sessions wins out here too. He’s been playing two less years than Felton, so he has the edge. It’s not a big edge, but an edge nonetheless.

The last pro for Sessions over Felton is that Sessions hasn’t been here before. He doesn’t have an inflated view of himself or his abilities. He’s just a solid basketball player who plays hard and plays smart. That’s what the Lakers need, and Felton hasn’t been that.

It’s clear that Sessions is the better option. He’s cheaper, better-rounded and will not cause locker room problems. Being taller and a better defender than Felton doesn’t hurt him either.

Lakers management, go with Sessions and reach for those championships trophies.