Lakers Rumors: LA Gunning For Goran Dragic, Jordan Hamilton To Shore Up Scoring?
These are dark days for the Los Angeles Lakers, with the team apparently spiraling toward its worst season in quite a while, but rumor has it that the Lakers are looking toward the future. That future could start with the acquisition of Suns point guard Goran Dragic, but that’s not the only addition the Lakers are looking to make.
Following a 140-106 blowout at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers are 3-10 on the year, having won three out of their last ten games.
Questions abound over whether the Lakers should just write the season off and tank, whether Kobe is holding the team back, and whether there is anything that can be done to right the ship. What’s nearly certain, though, is that this is not going to be a terribly enjoyable season for hardcore Laker fans, who are used to seeing their team at least competing for the Playoffs, if not a championship.
Unfortunately, Laker fans, it’s not looking like the Lakers are going to be able to pull a drastic turnaround barring a few truly massive free agent acquisitions. Even if the Lakers did manage to pull in some top-shelf talent, that would likely mean a mad dash toward an uncertain place near the bottom of the Western Conference bracket. Last year, the Dallas Mavericks grabbed the eighth slot in the West with a record of 49-33. To match even that middling record, the Lakers would have to win two-thirds of their remaining games going forward, starting Sunday with a matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
So what is there for Laker fans to look forward to? Well, the team isn’t giving up on it’s semi-rebuilding project. The Sporting News’ Sean Deveney says that the Lakers are quite interested in landing Suns point guard Goran Dragic, who will reportedly become a free agent at the end of this season.
Dragic has found himself in a bit of a point guard traffic jam in Phoenix, a team that’s loaded at the point with Isaiah Thomas, Eric Bledsoe, Dragic, and Tyler Ennis. Dragic would bring a proven scoring capability to the woeful Lakers, as he currently averages 14.9 points per game on 47.8 percent shooting. He also averages 3.1 assists, though that number could rise were he paired with the Lakers’ roster.
Aside from Dragic, the Lakers are also said to be interested in Israeli point guard Gal Mekel. ESPN’s Marc Stein said this week that the Lakers were looking to check out Mekel in an audition, noting that that would give them a much-needed shot creator.
ESPN sources say Lakers bringing in Israeli PG Gal Mekel for audition this week. Which makes sense given how much Lakers need a shot-creator — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 19, 2014
The Lakers might also look to add some scoring depth and athleticism to their roster with free agent small-forward Jordan Hamilton. As Bleacher Report notes, Hamilton’s 6’7? frame and versatility at the two or three spot would give the Lakers a needed perimeter defender, as well as someone who could give Kobe Bryant some rest. Hamilton would also add some three-point shooting ability to the Lakers, addressing an area where the team has been flat-out awful.
[Lead image via NBC Sports]
