NBA Trade Deadline: Lakers' Moves Ensure Postseason Success

The Los Angeles Lakers' shaky season became a lot more stable with the moves they pulled off at the trade deadline. 

The Lakers addressed their gaping hole at point and added a little front court depth in two moves that will guarantee this team will make a deep postseason run and be a championship contender. 

The Trades

The Lakers made two moves on deadline day. Here is what they gained and lost. 

Lakers Acquired: Ramon Sessions, Christian Eyenga, Jordan Hill and a first-round pick

Lakers Give Up: Luke Walton, Derek Fisher and Lakers first-rounder in 2012. Lakers will also swap firsts with the Miami Heat in 2013.  

Impact of Deals

First let's carefully review what the Lakers gave up in the deal. And after some intense calculations and review, they gave up...nothing. At least in terms of this season. The pick will have slight value, but that is sure to be at the end of the first round anyway. 

As far as Walton, well, his contributions were so minimal that it was barely noticeable that he had only played nine games this season. 

Fisher was playing a key role on the Lakers, but that was their problem. He has been awful, and now Sessions is replacing him, which is a huge upgrade. 

Fisher's leadership certainly will be missed, but the Lakers are going to need a lot less leadership when their point guard position is not a black hole. 

So now let's take a look at what their gaining. Sessions will add nothing defensively. That's alright though, the Lakers haven't gotten a lick of defense all year at the point guard position and they are seventh in points allowed. 

What they are going to get is a point guard that can get to the lane and work off of pick and rolls. This is going to make a world of difference to the offense and that is where they needed help. 

The fact that they haven't had a point guard that could do these things has really hamstrung this team as they transitioned from the triangle. 

They also acquired a better first option off the bench for the front court position. Hill is a solid rebounder and has good athleticism. 

The Lakers just became a vastly more complete team, and they are now a legitimate threat to get back to win the Western Conference.