Here is the list of the 5 players that I believe the Lakers should be tracking. Of course most Laker fans think that Dwight Howard should be the top target, but I am not so sure.
#5 Darren Collison
Collison has bounced around the league a little bit since he entered a few years ago, but the guy is insanely fast, can make free throws and is a lot younger than both Steve's we have at the point guard. His price tag isn't too high and he is a Southern California kid. Not to mention the fact that he can actually stay in front of somebody on defense. He is the type of guy that can come in and not demand a whole lot of attention, but also make the team a little bit better along the way. If I were a GM in the NBAm, Collison is the type of player that I would like on my team.
#4 Dwight Howard
Before Laker fans get all crazy with my choice to put Dwight at #4 on this list let me give you my reasons. Dwight Howard in his first year with the Lakers didn't show us anything to have us believe that he could play second fiddle to Kobe Bryant. Also, if you noticed from his time in Orlando he is not really the guy to be a leader of a team either. So what do you do with a guy that can't lead and can't follow? You let him go mess up another team. Allegedly, Dwight is going to be making his decision on Friday. I think if we have learned anything from Mr. Howard it is that he is not really good at sticking with a decision. On the court, he hasn't made a free throw since the Bush Administration. Also, he hasn't shown us that he has improved at all from last season or that he is 100% healthy yet. Don't get me wrong, I do think that Dwight is still the best center in the league and can help some team make the playoffs. Unfortunately, he just doesn't have that drive to be a Championship winner and therefore he doesn't need to be in purple and gold next season. I will bid you adieu for now Dwight and best of luck with whomever is stuck with your style of play.
#3 Cory Brewer
If there is one weakness aside from not having a big guy in the center at this point it is that the Lakers have absolutely no athleticism on the wings. Kobe is old, Metta is older, and their guys off the bench are either shooters or just plain bad. Brewer is somewhat of a dynamic athlete, ask ex-Laker Derek Fisher. I have never been a fan of Brewer, but he does what he needs to do and if he could ever get a consistent jump shot he would be a major upgrade for the Lakers at a reasonable price. Having a guy like that on the wing would be a huge benefit in trying to contain the likes of Lebron and Durant. Not that Brewer is defensively sound enough to guard those two.
#2 Al Jefferson
Why has nobody from the Lakers organization even thought about trying to sign Jefferson. Alright they probably have. He is a solid basketball player and can put up big numbers. He also won't be asking for the absurd amount of money that Howard will. Jefferson is not a guy who is gonna be the #1 option on the Lakers which is just what they need and he seems to have the motor that Dwight lacks at times. On second thought, I would even be okay with signing Jefferson's teammate Paul Millsap. Talk about guys who go after it night in night out. Those type of players are hard to come by in the NBA today and would totally benefit a Laker team that tends to be a little lazy. Millsap and Jefferson would be two guys that would fit in great with the Lakers and be solid chips to start rebuilding around when Kobe is done
#1 Josh Smith
It was so hard to put Josh Smith #1 on my list. I have disliked this guy since day 1. He is arrogant, cocky, and can't make a jump shot. Yet, he tends to almost exclusively shoot jump shots. Where is the logic there? Alas, like I mentioned before the Lakers need athleticism on the wing and Smith has tons of that. Not only that, but he could play a multitude of positions and play them effectively. Smith is not the answer for the Lakers. The answer for the Lakers has already signed with the team that shares the building. We are going to be forced to sign a guy like Smith and hope that somebody like "Lebron" signs next off-season.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few days. I am not sure I know exactly what I want at this point. Should Dwight stay? Can the Lakers stand another terrible year and hope to sign a big name next season? Is there any player left out there that can make a difference this season? I don't know the answer to any of those questions. Only time will tell and time is what is catching up to our long lasting captain. Here's hoping Kobe comes back 110%.
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