Lakers Rumors: Latest Review of Gossip Surrounding Los Angeles
Whether they're winning or losing, the Los Angeles Lakers are seemingly always a major topic of conversation in the NBA. The injury to Kobe Bryant is at the forefront of basketball news.
It has effectively ended his season, put a damper on the upcoming All-Star Game and raised questions as to whether Bryant will call it quits after this year.
Per Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, that isn't likely:
If this season simply ended with the Lakers having a poor record, there's reason to believe Bryant could walk away. Instead, this latest injury has likely provided "The Black Mamba" with the requisite challenge to come back for his 20th season.
Twenty is a nice round number, and playing in 2015-16 gives Bryant an opportunity to write his own ending to a Hall of Fame career. Bet on him returning, and he just might have a few new and exciting teammates to join him.
Interest in Reggie Jackson?
Per Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers are one of the teams expected to show interest in trading for Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson at the trade deadline.
Jackson is heading toward restricted free agency this offseason, and Kennedy implies that the Thunder might be willing to part ways with the 24-year-old as opposed to watching him leave without compensation:
"Sam Presti is a GM who doesn’t just let assets walk away for nothing, so he’d never just let Reggie Jackson go sign with another team in the summer and not match. I think he’ll trade him before the deadline and get something in return. I think the Knicks and Lakers are two teams that will show interest because they’d love to have Jackson as part of their long-term plan, but neither team has great assets to make a deal happen.
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Jackson is averaging 13.9 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game in just 29.5 minutes. There's little doubt that with more time, Jackson could really blossom. Even if the Lakers lack the assets to pry him away from OKC now, they would be wise to keep him on the radar in the offseason.
Greg Monroe Too?
Every championship period in Lakers history has included a dominant big man. Could the Detroit Pistons' pending free agent Greg Monroe be the next one?
Something about that just doesn't sound right, but the Lakers are somewhat desperate and Monroe will definitely be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason.
If the Lakers could trade for him, they would have a head start on other teams interested in signing Monroe. Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today examined Monroe's plan to pick his next team, and the potential interest from the Lakers. They wrote:
"Detroit Pistons forward-center Greg Monroe planned for unrestricted free agency so he could choose his next team, and that remains the case.
Whether Monroe gets a true max or not, he's going to receive a lucrative deal, and the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are among the possible suitors.
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Monroe doesn't feel like a true max player and the Lakers must avoid overspending just to add a new piece. The 24-year-old is averaging 15.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season, but he's not a great low-post defender and he's a poor shot-blocker for his position.
He also doesn't have the motor or demeanor of a leader. If you're giving a guy max money, there's an expectation for him to be one of the leaders on your team.
Monroe is a good, young player, but if it takes a max deal to acquire him, the Lakers should pass.
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