The Los Angeles Lakers continue to face doubt around their current roster as the team looks for a bounce back year. After failing to acquire some of the more marquee free agents in the offseason, the Lakers went with depth as their main focus, signing players like Brandon Bass, Lou Williams and Roy Hibbert to help backup current stars like Julius Randle and Kobe Bryant. However, the Lakers could still be in the works of making moves with names like Markieff Morris, Mario Chalmers and Ricky Rubio getting linked to the team.
According to ESPN's Kevin Pelton, the Lakers could be in the works to acquire Morris as they could easily offer up Nick Young in a trade package for the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have been eyeing a trade for Young in order to get his salary off the books for next year's free agency run and the Suns might end up being a buyer. With questions surrounding the health and development of Randle, getting Morris in for depth is certainly not the worst idea.
However, Lakers' beat writer Harrison Faigen of SilverScreenandRoll.com makes the case that trading for Morris is wasted energy. The Lakers currently have a strong list of power forwards with Randle, Brandon Bass and Ryan Kelly. Both Randle and Bass are not headed anywhere and the Lakers do not need to bring on a contract of four years and $32 million to back them up. Morris might be an upgrade over Randle, but the Lakers are committed to the growth of the second-year player and adding someone to battle with could potentially stunt that effort.
While the Lakers might stay put on a trade for Morris, could they still be eyeing a point guard to add to the rotation. Summer League play did very little to add confidence behind the duo of Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell. Both players saw their share of struggles that could be an issue in Los Angeles. The Lakers could target short-term or long-term fixes before the season.
If the Lakers felt the need to make a trade for help, Mario Chalmers would be the best available short-term fix. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting the Heat are desperate to move the point guard. While he might not be a quality starter, Chalmers would at least add needed depth behind a very young point guard rotation.
Could the Lakers be a landing spot for Ricky Rubio? According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, the Minnesota Timberwolves might end up shopping Rubio should Tyus Jones development into a strong point guard. While the Timberwolves would not seek a deal at the beginning of the season, they could eye a mid-season deal to which the Lakers could be takers. Los Angeles attempted to get players like Goran Dragic, Patrick Beverly and Ty Lawson this offseason. Rubio would be a quality addition to take over the spot should Russell and Clarkson continue to struggle.
