Lakers Rumors: Without Major Acquisition Lakers Will Meet Another Playoff Defeat

The Lakers are feeling the pressure to make a deal. They are chasing both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. The Lakers realize, to be relevant over the next four or five years, they need to acquire a major talent who is in his mid- to early 20s.

Kobe Bryant is 33 years old and has little tread left on his Hall of Fame tires. If they go into this upcoming season with Kobe, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the Lakers will lose again.

I give management credit for recognizing that, and being aggressive. It is more than can be said for other franchises in the NBA.

Obviously, the prospects of adding Paul and Howard are tremendous, but the fact is, landing either makes the Lakers the favorites in the West. Kobe is on the downside of his career, but his downside is still better than 98 percent of the players in the NBA.

A tandem of Paul and Bryant and especially Howard and Bryant is better than the Mavericks, who look to be in disarray at too many key spots. Most importantly, it trumps the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that figures to be the class of the Western Conference, not only this year, but for years to come.

They desperately need a change at point guard, either in a trade or with the mindset of one Russell Westbrook. Are the Lakers going to be able to seize this time of growth by the Thunder?

Not if they sit pat and get nothing done. The pressure is on, and this time, it isn't on the players; this one is on management.