If you put a stud at point guard in a major NBA market, the fans throw all their support behind that player, and teammates buy into the system. Just look at New York and Chicago. Call it the Jeremy Lin Effect.
It is a lesson that Los Angeles Lakers management should take with them as the trade deadline looms less than a month away.
In 2004, the NBA implemented new rules to curtail hand-checking. Consequently, team success in professional basketball became geared toward the triumph or failure of point guards.
If you take a look at the best teams in the league, those teams typically have a floor general who runs the show by creating shots for his team or for himself. The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, the Clippers’ Chris Paul, the Spurs’ Tony Parker and the Mavericks’ Jason Kidd are all integral to their respective team’s success.
This simple fact is what has reenergized a Knicks team whose NBA-shortened season was seemingly finished in February, thanks to the heroics of Lin.
Although it might seem to be within the Lakers’ best interest to pursue Dwight Howard, they would be better off finding a point guard to relieve the burden on Kobe Bryant.
Everyone knows that Howard is going to be the biggest acquisition if he is traded at this year’s deadline. Howard’s athleticism and defensive prowess would make a contender out of any team that acquires him at the deadline, but at this point in time, it is not what the Lakers need.
Regardless of how great Howard would be in yellow and purple, he does not solve the inadequacies of the 37-year-old Derek Fisher, currently the starting point guard for LA. Fisher is averaging a dismal 5.3 points per game on 37 percent shooting. Not only is Fisher’s production low, his efficiency is poor.
Although you can’t take anything away from the _career_ of the five-time NBA champion, the Lakers need someone other than Bryant who can create off of the dribble.
The Lakers already have frontline depth with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. What they need is a point guard.
Los Angeles should make a play for Steve Nash, who is such a great leader he would never sell out his teammates and ask for a trade.
If the 38-year-old Nash’s age is a deterrent to the Lakers, they could get creative and try to swing a deal for Rajon Rondo or Deron Williams, who is a free agent at season’s end.
Despite the fact that Howard would be the best individual player who the Lakers could get, he is not the star who would help them the most. This distinction is key.
Howard will not be traded before Feb. 26, when the All-Star Game hits Orlando. As a result, it would take too much time for Howard to become acclimated with the Lakers’ system.
Secondly, with two huge contracts on board, the only players the Lakers could sign in the offseason would be those who are willing to sign for the midlevel exception.
More than anything, envision Bryant paired with someone who matches his ability in the backcourt, something he’s never before had. Imagine where LA would be if someone like Chris Paul were a Laker.