NBA Free Agents 2011: Jason Kapono's Range Should Have Lakers Targeting Him

The Los Angeles Lakers are once again warranting a great deal of buzz as far as trades and free agency are concerned. The one move they need to jump after, though, is not the one that will have fans satiated. 

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul—those are the names that every fan wearing purple and gold wants to hear when it's reported the Lakers have a fresh new face. 

That would not be the sensible thing though. The Lakers would do well to target the lesser-known players that could help fill out an already star-powered roster. 

Adrian Wojanarowski of Yahoo Sports reports the Lakers have brought in Jason Kapono for a once-over. Now that's more like it. 

Look, I am not about to sit here and poo-poo the idea of Howard in a Lakers jersey. As long as Howard and Kobe Bryant are healthy, you can pencil in that squad for a deep playoff run. I just don't think they would have the depth they do now to assure a title run. 

The Lakers would need to give up a shade more than Andrew Bynum to get Howard. I am still working on the sentiment that they don't need Dwight Howard. 

This team is flush with talent front to back. The two areas that they do need to get better is in perimeter shooting and at point guard. 

Jason Kapono answers the former, and best of all is he answers it cheaply. The Lakers are going to no doubt look at All-Stars to fill their team. They really wouldn't be the Lakers otherwise. 

However, it will be these types of signings that prove the difference a few months from now when the games really matter. 

It's time to cease with the paranoid panic that continues long after the Lakers don't win a title. They were close enough to warrant the belief they can make another valiant run in 2012. 

The key is not to derail all the great talent they have on the roster now. Small tweaks, that is what will be the difference this year.