Los Angeles Lakers: 10 Teams Contenders Could Make to Keep Up with the Lakers
As the Heat flounder in the East, the Lake Show gets stronger out West. There is only but a small window to compete for a NBA championship. That fleeting moment could pass up some teams if they do not shore up some of their inadequacies in a hurry.
The Lakers are clearly still the team to beat. The Spurs may be off to the hottest start in their franchise history, but their aging legs will catch up to them.
Here I have selected 10 teams that must make a move to plug up their holes. Each team has their own special deficiency. Here is what they can do to fix them.
New Orleans Hornets
1 of 10
Somehow, some way, the Hornets are back from the dead. The team that made it deep into the NBA playoffs a couple of years ago is playing like an actual contender again. But I fail to see what exactly would bother the elite teams like the Lakers in seven games.
Sure, they got tougher when they recently added Jarret Jack and Marcus Banks to the mix. But they need a certified scorer on their team. What they should do—and what could be rumored if they continue this monstrously good year—is a trade for a legitimate scoring threat.
In a month or so, the Nuggets will be waving their little contract extension flag and will be looking to get whatever they can. The Hornets with Carmelo Anthony are legitimate threats to take down the Lakers.
Oklahoma City Thunder
2 of 10
The Thunder were already threats to the Lakers last season. Now they are a year older and tout one of the best players in the game in Kevin Durant.
What the Thunder desperately need is an elder statesman to show them the ropes. I don't mean James Harden, who simply looks like he is 40 years old.
A look at the free agency list bears little to no helps for the Thunder. Although I do think Devean George would fit in nicely. But the one piece this team craves is Richard Hamilton.
I would rather have Thabo Sefalosha coming off the bench than starting at the 2 spot. Rip Hamilton knows what it takes to get to the next level, and the Pistons could use some of the youth that the Thunder have.
They just missed out on Erick Dampier. Now they will have to trade for a veteran presence.
Denver Nuggets
3 of 10
The Denver Nuggets are in the wrong decade. A few years earlier or later, and they would be in the NBA Finals. They constantly run into the Lakers and are subsequently ousted.
What they need is a presence down low that can add depth and scoring ability. Though Nene and Chris Anderson are great for the regular season, to take out the Lakers, they will need more.
The one team I look to with an over-abundance of starting-caliber centers that would also feel comfortable off the bench is Boston. Shaq would drool at the chance of taking out the Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs. By the time Kendrick Perkins gets healthy, the Celtics may have tired of the Shaquille Show.
But the one thing the Nuggets must do to compete is largely out of their hands. They must resign Carmelo Anthony. Without that signature, the rest of his teammates do not buy in. This seems to be happening already. It will only get worse if unchecked.
Phoenix Suns
4 of 10
The Suns are an enigma. They are still good after all their scoring talent left. Without Amare Stoudemire, the Suns are left without height in the middle and depth at scoring.
They can assuage a part of this simply by signing Devean George. George could keep up in the 3 spot off the bench. He is built for an up-tempo system and would flourish.
The second suggestion is a bit more difficult. It is adding a prolific defensive presence down low to spur along the young Channing Frye. If Carmelo bolts the Nuggets, Denver may be willing to free up some of their other players.
Chris "Birdman" Anderson would be a perfect fit for the Suns.
Miami Heat
5 of 10
The Heat have already plugged what holes they could in their foundering ship. Signing Erick Dampier was a necessary evil. With the injury bug hitting them early and often, I think they can do more to shore up their depth.
It is clear that Dwyane Wade is hurting. Besides adding depth at center, they need to sign some other free-agent castoffs. They cannot trade anyone with the lot they have now. They should delve into the unwanted bag and pick put a Jerry Stackhouse or Larry Hughes.
The stink will wear off when their team gets healthy.
San Antonio Spurs
6 of 10
The Spurs welcomed Richard Jefferson to the party this season. He seemed to be missing last year.
This year's start has been the best yet for the San Antonio Spurs. But that does not negate the fact that they still have old legs. The Spurs are great at pacing themselves. An 11-1 start is not pacing yourselves.
Why not add the young Ike Diogu to the mix. He is a smart, disciplined player with great hands. He has a good post game but is a tad on the slow side.
Sounds a lot like the Spurs' game plan. Either way, they need to get younger quickly or stop playing well so early.
Orlando Magic
7 of 10
Let's get silly for a second. I know the mantra is if it ain't broke, don't touch the thing. But hear me out. What if the Magic sent Vince Carter and Quentin Richardson to the Nets for 'Melo and J.R. Smith?
Granted, the Magic would need to to start Smith, which is not desirable, but they would instantly be the favorites to take the East. They would also have yet another three-point shooter in J.R. Smith.
Also, the Nuggets would get great value for a pouting star by getting Vince Carter.
Denver Mavericks
8 of 10
Dirk Nowitzki is clearly better when he has another star on the floor with him. He has never been the one-man dominating entity Mark Cuban had hoped for. He may be one of the best players in the NBA, but these are different times.
If Cuban thinks he can snag a high talent in a trade, he will do so.
The closer that Carmelo Anthony gets to the end of the season, the more I think the Nuggets will be forced to move him. There is no other way for them to go, especially if they start losing.
Carmelo could be the one piece the Mavericks have been missing all these years.
Utah Jazz
9 of 10
It is clear that Raja Bell should not be starting. He is still a fantastic shooter and defensive presence, but he is most effective as a backup.
If the Jazz cannot resurrect the 'Melo trade with Andrei Kirilenko, they must do so with another team.
I may wish to get a little wacky here, but the Jazz are a perfect team for a player that wishes to remodel his image. He is a player that would have to conform to Jerry Sloan and not the other way around. The only pylon in the way would be his enormous salary.
I am talking about Gilbert Arenas. He would instantly make the Jazz the number two team in the West. This would be without playing a single game.
New York Knicks
10 of 10
This may have come as a surprise because they are not contenders. Well with only a few games into the season, they are not exactly out either.
There are rumors bubbling that there is yet another three-team trade in the works with the Knicks, Nuggets and Hawks involved. I'll bet you can guess who is rumored to be on his way to New York.
It is clear that this rumor will never die until 'Melo gets off a plane in New York wearing a Knicks jersey. It will make that team instant contenders, no matter who he plays with.
