Los Angeles Lakers: Can Andrew Goudelock Backup Kobe Bryant?

With Shannon Brown opting out of his contract, the Los Angeles Lakers need a new backup shooting guard. 

Kobe Bryant isn't getting any younger. He's going to be 33 next season (if there is one) and he's going to need a backup that come in and score points. I believe that backup is Andrew Goudelock.  

Goudelock is a Kyle Korver, Daniel Gibson type of player. He can come off the bench, stretch the floor and knock down threes. 

In the regular season, the Lakers attempted 18.1 threes a game, and made 6.4 of them—35 percent from three in the regular season isn't too shabby. Between Ron Artest, Steve Blake, Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant, you would expect that from the Lakers.

However, in the postseason, L.A. attempted 16.6 threes a game, while only making 4.8 of them. This leaves them with a mediocre 29 percent from three.

As we saw, it's hard to get by on the postseason shooting like that. 

With most of the Lakers' three-point shooters on the decline, Goudelock is going to have some shoes to fill.

Is he going to be an every-game starter? I doubt it. But can he help the Lakers shooting-wise, especially from the three-point line? Definitely. 

During Goudelock's last season in college, he averaged 23.7 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line. 

Basically, this kid can score. 

He's currently listed as a point guard, but I don't see that happening. He's more of a shoot-first guard, and that's not what this Lakers squad needs. 

Between Kobe, Pau Gasol and Andrew "I need more touches" Bynum, the Lakers need a facilitator at the point guard position, not a scorer.  

Players generally do better in the league when they know their role from the get-go. Some players are rebound machines, other players are slashers and some players are shot-blockers. 

Goudelock is a flat-out scorer.

He's going to come off the bench, and score points for this Lakers team.