NBA Los Angeles Lakers

Give Los Angeles Lakers’ Front Office Credit for Scouring Trade Market

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By @pjacobosports

Los Angeles Lakers Mitch Kupchak

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Entering the 2014 offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to retool the squad with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Unfortunately, they bet all their chips and came away with nothing.

The Lakers are 12-28 thru 40 games and as of now are in position to keep their highly-protected draft pick. The Lakers’ front office has continued to deny they are tanking the season, and recent trade rumors say the same.

In the past few weeks, they have been linked to Dion Waiters (23), Brandon Jennings (25), Brook Lopez (26) and Greg Monroe (24). Contrary to what many fans feel about these specific players, they could help this team. They are not superstars by any stretch, but they can certainly be important pieces on a rebuilding team.

The Lakers are not in a position to be picky with players. They failed miserably in bringing A-list talent to Los Angeles in the summer. Maybe L.A. is losing some of its lust. The front office is banking on free agency again next season with players like Marc Gasol, Rajon Rondo and LaMarcus Aldridge, among others hitting the market.

Credit the Lakers’ organization for doing their due diligence in seeking young assets. To their misfortune, they lack desirable assets themselves to pull off a major coup. The players they inquired about were on bad terms with their respective teams. They took a chance on buying low on these young players.

With the Lakers tanking the season, they are banking on Julius Randle and the draft pick to solidify their future. They are welcome additions, but they will need a marquee player to attract other players as well. They are risking coming away empty handed again in the offseason with the roster they have now. Acquiring players under contract could protect them in case the offseason doesn’t go according to plan.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and company are aware of this and so they are left to peruse the trade market. The Lakers are hoping for another Pau Gasol-type of trade, but even that seems unlikely. They have a bevy of expiring contracts and a few draft picks to play with. Will Kupchak pull another rabbit out of the hat?

I applaud the Lakers’ brass for continuing to look for ways to improve their roster. Kobe Bryant is at the end of his career and deserves a shot at competing for a title. His 17-assist performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers is a testament to his greatness. If the Lakers can surround him with talent, he would be able to focus on becoming the facilitator and not the scorer.

The trade deadline is a few weeks away for the Lakers to make moves. Other teams have already started moving their pieces around with a flurry of trades already completed. We’ll see what the trade deadline holds for the Lakers.

Pablo Jacobo is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @pjacobosports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on Google.

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