NBA Rumors: Gilbert Arenas Isn't Right Answer to Lakers' Questions

Judging by their collapse on Christmas, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have a lot of problems this season. Their roster hasn't been this depleted since trading Shaquille O'Neal in 2005, and things are only going to get worse as the year moves on. Despite all that, Gilbert Arenas is not the solution they need. 

There appears to be more interest from Arenas' side than the Lakers at this point. He put them on the short list of teams that he would like to play for and, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, they are reluctant to move in on the controversial point guard. 

"

Arenas' hometown Lakers, meanwhile, continue to give the impression that they're hesitant to launch into a Gil experiment. This, after all, is a time of high sensitivity in Lakerland in the wake of Lamar Odom's exit and Pau Gasol's uncertain future with the team. 

"

Desperate teams often make desperate moves. That is how Arenas ended up in Orlando last season, because their offense was struggling and he was one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA before he was suspended for most of the 2009-10 season for keeping guns in his locker. 

As Arenas showed last season, he is not the same player that he used to be. He can't create his own shot anymore, and he is useless without the ball in his hands, which are two things that don't really make for a good player. 

The Lakers need a point guard, because Derek Fisher isn't going to get the job done for an entire season, nor is he a starter for a championship caliber team. They need someone who can create his own shot and get Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum the ball. 

Arenas hasn't been an effective passer since 2008 and his shot, as mentioned before, has not come back. He shot less than 40 percent from the field last season. 

It is hard for a team like the Lakers to accept that there are other teams better than them, but that is the reality of the NBA this year. Unless they can strike a deal to land Dwight Howard and a superstar point guard, they are going to be the fifth-best team in the Western Conference. 

As bad as that sounds, it would not get any better if they made Arenas their starting point guard for a significant portion of the season. 

Follow @adamwells1985