HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

The last two times Coach Phil Jackson “retired,” the Chicago Bulls simultaneously had to replace Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and the Los Angeles Lakers traded Shaquille O’Neal.

At the press conference for incoming Lakers Coach Mike Brown, the word “core” was emphasized and then re-emphasized.

“I’m excited about this roster. I still believe that this core group of guys can go get it done,” said Brown last week.

And using almost the same words, owner Dr. Jerry Buss said, “We certainly have the core of people that can win a championship.”

So after the four-game sweep against the Dallas Mavericks that sent the back-to-back champion Lakers to an early summer, does L.A. follow history and make a major move in transition? Or do they hold true to their words that this core group of players can get it accomplished next season?

Were the Lakers just worn out from three straight trips to the NBA Finals? Or was the Dallas upset a sign there is something fundamentally missing from this roster and needs immediate repair for the team to continue at an elite level?

“I think what I didn’t take into account was how difficult it is to go to the Finals four years in a row,” said Buss. “We played like 100 more games than other people and I think it took a toll.”

Certainly it’s a consideration for the team that a new coach, added rest and some tinkering could be all the Lakers need during the offseason.

Despite struggling noticeably through the playoffs, the Lakers seem set on retaining power forward Pau Gasol along with center Andrew Bynum and star guard Kobe Bryant.

The obvious need is in the backcourt.  It doesn’t take much to see a 37-year-old Derek Fisher (by the start of next season, assuming a lengthy lockout can be averted) is well past his prime. Fisher was slow-footed as a starter back in 2002.

Despite his shortcomings, Derek has been a huge part of why the Lakers have won as many rings as they have since 2000 (five in total).  He’s widely respected around the league as a tough competitor, a physical player, a leader, a clutch shooter and a natural complement to Bryant.

Now that the Lakers are moving away from the triangle offense, it’s time for the team to find Fisher’s successor.

Recently Lakers.com reporter Mike Trudell noted from his conversation with Mitch Kupchak that the team’s general manager “mentioned that the team could potentially be in need of additional guards in part because they’re unsure if Shannon Brown will pick up the option year of his contract, and in part due to the age of starters Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher.”

In response the Laker fan base said, “We know.”

Last offseason’s acquisition of Steve Blake seemed like a good idea at the time, but Blake struggled in his first year with the team (perhaps due to the system).  If he is to be the Fisher incumbent, the Lakers are looking at a 31-year-old point guard who shot 35.9% from the field last season.

Without a doubt, it’s a difficult fit for the Lakers who need youth and athleticism to keep up with an army of opposing ones.  L.A. would need a defender to keep up with players like Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose.

Equally, that player would need to be able to feed the post with the volume of inside scorers the Lakers can boast.  They’d need to be able to play without the ball given Bryant’s proclivity for domination.

The point would need to be able to catch-and-shoot, run the pick-and-roll, and be immediately ready for the fires of a championship playoff run.

That’s a pretty tall order for any player.  Many of the young guards need the ball in their hands and open lanes to the basket, so much so that it wouldn’t be a shock to see Fisher open up the season in the starting lineup next to Bryant.

The Lakers also need one more big man capable of filling in off the bench but also willing to accept long stretches of limited minutes (formerly known as the Josh Powell role).

Certainly moving Gasol or Bynum might be able to get that done, but sources have indicated that’s not in the equation.  So what tools do the Lakers have to acquire such a vital asset?

NBA Draft 2011
Heading into the draft later this month, L.A. doesn’t have a first-round pick (traded to the New Jersey Nets), but does have four second-round picks (41, 46, 56 and 58).

If they keep all four, the last two may be throw-aways on players who go overseas to develop their game.  The odds are slim L.A. finds a roster player that low, although last year Derrick Caracter made the roster at 58.

The team can look for backcourt help with their early second-rounders with hopes of landing the next Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd or even Carlos Boozer, who were all overlooked in their day.

Some interesting names that may last until the thirties, suggesting the Lakers may need to look into packaging some of their seconds to climb a few spots if they can, would include:  Darius Morris, Norris Cole, Malcolm Lee, Reggie Jackson, Shelvin Mack, Isaiah Thomas, Andrew Goudelock, Diante Garrett or the like.

If the Lakers can trade into the first round certainly Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker would be a major acquisition, but that’s lottery territory and L.A. would have to give up something valuable to get that high.

Other options in the first might include Josh Selby, Jimmer Friddette, Klay Thompson, Alec Burks, Imam Shumpert, Marshon Brooks or Charles Jenkins.

To make a move, the Lakers would have to fall in love with a prospect with the belief they’d be able to take on a major role very quickly in their careers.

When was the last time the team took on a player in the first round of the draft and immediately gave him major minutes?  Maybe some of that was Phil Jackson who preferred veterans, but the Lakers under Kupchak have not relied on the draft to build their rotation (this past year, just Bynum).

Landing a player like Norris Cole or Darius Morris may be the best the Lakers can hope for in the draft without making a bigger move.

Trade Exception
Perhaps the most powerful tool Kupchak has in his arsenal is the Sasha Vujacic trade exception which can allow for the Lakers to bring in a player (or players) making up to $5,575,113.

While it expires in December, with the uncertainty surrounding the lockout L.A. may need to use it before July first or risk it will expire before the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is worked out.

The exception cannot be directly combined with other Laker players to bring in a player making a larger amount of money although creative deals can be fashioned to combine it indirectly in an unbalanced trade.

The hard part is finding teams willing to outright dump a player with little back in return (a second-round pick or a marginal prospect like Devin Ebanks or Caracter).

Throw out the name Jeff Teague and he fits into that exception, but the Atlanta Hawks are excited about the development of the guard – the point being, filling in a major hole won’t be easy with the trade exception alone.  Naming unavailable players won’t get it done.

The most obvious acquisition would be Daniel “Boobie” Gibson from the Cleveland Cavaliers who is still young, can play with or without the ball and is one of the league’s better three-point shooters.

Gibson didn’t always break Brown’s rotation in Cleveland so the new Laker coach may not favor such a move. The Cavaliers are expected to draft point guard Kyrie Irving in the draft and have Baron Davis, Ramon Sessions and Gibson loaded up at the same position. Gibson makes $4.4 million next year and is guaranteed half of his $4.8 million the following season.

At that point it becomes a question of how much money Dr. Buss is willing to further invest in a team already boasting the league’s highest-paid roster.

Other trade exception targets could be Jerryd Bayless, Jason Thompson, Rudy Fernandez, Marreese Speights, Ronny Turiaf, Jarrett Jack, Anthony Morrow, Luke Ridnour, Sessions, O.J. Mayo, Shaun Livingston, Jonny Flynn and a host of others.

The trick is finding a team willing to deal and providing enough to entice them to do it – neither is an easy task.  No one on that list should be considered likely, but some are naturally more possible than others.

Amnesty
It is rumored the next CBA will include an amnesty provision where a player can be cut outright, with their salary (still paid) coming off the team’s tax and/or salary cap.

While it’s certainly too soon to know if that will in fact go through and how it will be implemented, it could lead to a flood of additional free agents this summer as detailed last month (Pincus: Howard/Paul Moves Will Wait For New CBA).

L.A. might consider cutting one of Luke Walton, Ron Artest or Blake.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Looking around the league, players like Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Rashard Lewis, Jose Calderon, Marvin Williams, Stephen Jackson, Brendan Haywood, Al Harrington, Rip Hamilton, Andris Biedrins, Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, Travis Outlaw, Andres Nocioni, Josh Childress and/or Raja Bell could become available.

Just the possibility of amnesty may change more than one team’s approach to trading before July.

While Arenas and Davis in their primes would have been a huge boon for the Lakers, now they may be past the point to help.  Calderon, if cut, doesn’t play much defense at all but is a capable playmaker and shooter.

Equally, if the Lakers did decide on a trade, an amnesty player may be able to fill up the hole created in the rotation with an outgoing player.

One crazy thought would be Brandon Roy, given his lengthy contract with the Portland Trail Blazers and chronic knee problems.  Would the Blazers go as far as using the prospective amnesty on the All-Star?  It may be a stretch but it’s certainly something to think about during what could be a lengthy offseason.

Free Agency
In addition to the possible amnesties, the Lakers will have their crack at the free agent market.  If the Mid-Level Exception (roughly $5.5 million) survives the new CBA, that likely represents the Lakers’ spending power.

Tayshaun Prince makes a lot of sense in many ways.  Although the Lakers have Artest and Matt Barnes at the same position, amnesty or trades could potentially change that.  Prince was a target for L.A. at the trade deadline although nothing could be worked out.  He would have been a perfect fit in the triangle offense but given his versatility and acumen as a defender, he may still be a target for the Lakers.

Then again he and Coach John Kuester of the Detroit Pistons had more than one run-in and Kuester is expected to join Brown’s staff in L.A. (along with Ettore Messina).  That might be an issue for Prince should the Lakers decide to reach out.

Of course Prince doesn’t solve the primary hole at the point.

Jamal Crawford might fit but he’d be taking a significant pay cut from $10 million.  Would Delonte West defect from the Boston Celtics and is he reliable enough as a player to take on a major role in L.A.?

J.J. Barea has been such a force for the Dallas Mavericks; it’d be difficult to see Mark Cuban letting him go.

Arron Afflalo is a nice piece many teams will want but as a restricted free agent, he’s expected to stay with the Denver Nuggets.  J.R. Smith is too much of a loose cannon.

Restricted free agents Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Brooks might be worth looking at but the odds may be slim that the Pistons or Phoenix Suns let their respective young guards go.

T.J. Ford has had his share of struggles and while he’s a point guard, he doesn’t look like the right point guard for the Lakers.  Indiana Pacers teammate Jeff Foster might be an ideal target to back up the Laker bigs.

Vince Carter’s contract is not fully guaranteed and it’s expected that the Suns will cut ties with him but as with Arenas and Davis, a few years too late.

Willie Green is a steady bench player who might be a solid replacement for Shannon Brown if the New Orleans Hornets don’t retain him.

Jason Richardson is expensive and not a great fit.

It’s unclear just yet what the Portland Trail Blazers will do with Andre Miller whose contract is not fully guaranteed for next season.  He may be dealt elsewhere and then hit free agency if cut, although that too may be a stretch.

There will be other names that crop up but honestly it’s not a great free agent class which is no coincidence given the expiration of the CBA.  Add in the possible amnesty victims and while it improves, it’s still not a banner year.

Other Trade Targets
Beyond the trade exception, if the Lakers want to make a trade they have to be willing to give up player or players of value.

The “sign-and-trade” may disappear with the new CBA but if not, Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff would probably be willing to be go anywhere the Lakers can send them as part of a bigger package.

Shannon Brown, who can opt out and some believe he will, might be a sign-and-trade candidate but one the Lakers can’t rely on.  The odds of finding a team willing to pay for Brown outright that instead will give up some asset for him?  Not great.  Sign-and-trades with outgoing free agents tend to be rare and in the new CBA possibly illegal.

Unless Kupchak comes up with some radical, unexpected Gasol trade (like Russell Westbrook and Nick Collison) which appears to be extremely unlikely, the Laker bait would need to be some combination or Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Ron Artest, Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter.

Would they trade Derek Fisher, given all he’s done for the team?  Probably not although anything improving the team should be considered.

Odom, coming off of his best season, may be the most attractive piece the Lakers can offer.  He is set to earn $8.9 million next year followed by $8.2 million (although only $2.4 million of his final year is guaranteed).

The Lakers may decide to Band-Aid this coming season with hopes they’ll be able to lure a Dwight Howard, Chris Paul or Deron Williams in a “forced trade” before their contracts expire.  If so, the Odom contract bullet may be kept in the holster.

If Kupchak can turn Odom into a high quality point guard like Brandon Jennings, that’s something he should pursue.

Other names that might be at least in the ballpark for Odom could be Raymond Felton, Tony Parker and/or Devin Harris.  Some out of reach would probably include Andre Iguodala and Monta Ellis.

It’s difficult to gauge other team’s true needs and how willing they are to move their guards.  Felton is behind Ty Lawson in Denver.  The Spurs have George Hill progressing and may need a versatile big like Odom.  The Jazz are in flux.  If they draft one of the top point guards with their number three pick, perhaps Harris’ stay in Utah could be short.

Jennings is most intriguing because of his age and explosive potential.  He’s not a natural fit in Milwaukee and the Bucks may have a chance to take a high-level point in the coming draft as well.

L.A. can technically absorb Jennings with their trade exception and then trade Odom (perhaps with Blake) for some combination of players with less attractive contracts like Gooden, Maggette or even John Salmons.

Historically, the Lakers haven’t been in the practice of taking on undesirable contracts other than Brian Grant’s in the Shaquille O’Neal trade.

If L.A. wants to climb in the draft, Odom may also be their best chance.  If they did move him, the tools of trade exception and free agency would then turn to replace Lamar as the team’s primary big off the bench behind Bynum and Gasol.

It will be interesting to see exactly how the Lakers improve given that outside of Odom and their trade exception, they don’t seem to have much to offer.

Kupchak has been resilient thus far in moves landing Pau Gasol, Trevor Ariza and Shannon Brown along with dumping unneeded players like Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic (although Vujacic might have been the difference against Dallas).

If the Lakers do look to upgrade their chances at a return to the NBA Final, trading Odom may be their only path unless Kupchak can once again use his magic to find another way, be it in the draft, through use of their trade exception or in free agency.

Otherwise the team is looking at the same core with some minor tweaks and while that “may” be enough to get it done next season, with a rapidly aging group with limited foot-speed and athleticism, that may not be the right way to get it done next season.

How many years can the team wait and assume Kobe Bryant can carry on at an elite level?

There’s something to be said for small moves like adding Boobie Gibson, Norris Cole and a big man while waiting for a home run in a year’s time with Howard, Paul and/or Williams.

If Kupchak can figuratively hit a double or triple in the meantime, even if that costs Lamar Odom, then he needs to take a swing.