If the NBA lockout ends anytime soon and the upcoming season can be salvaged, the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking for ways to upgrade their current aging roster through free agency and possibly through some trades. The one change that the Lakers will most likely make is at the point guard position. Even though Derek Fisher still has a few years left and the Lakers have a decent backup in Steve Blake on the bench, the consensus is that the point guard spot is the one position on the team that needs a drastic change.
The best bet for the Los Angeles Lakers would be to go young and look for younger free agent point guards around the league or give rookie Darius Morris (Michigan) a shot to winning the starting job next season. There is hope that Morris could be the point guard of the future in L.A., but the Lakers are team that doesn’t wait for development with the desire to win now.
With that being said, there are some options out there in free agency both young and old. An interesting option would be former UCLA star and two-time All-Star point guard Baron Davis. There is no question that Davis is on the downside of his career and passed his prime, but he might be a welcome addition to the Lakers.
About five years ago, Baron Davis heading to the Los Angeles Lakers would be all over the headlines and a game-changer for this perennial NBA title contender. These days that isn’t the case anymore as many believe Davis is done as a primetime player in this league and on the verge of retirement.
Whether or not Baron Davis does have anything left in the tank remains to be seen, but Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak might be willing to take a chance on the veteran point guard if he comes at the right price. The Cleveland Cavaliers still have Davis on the roster, but there has been a lot of talk that he will get released once the NBA lockout ends. With the Cavs drafting point guard Kyrie Irving out of Duke with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, the team will almost certainly make Baron Davis the backup.
Apparently, Baron Davis has dreamed of playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and would love the opportunity to play alongside Kobe Bryant if given the chance. If the Lakers don’t reach out to Davis, the veteran point guard has also expressed interest in signing with the New York Knicks or the Charlotte Bobcats.
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