5 Reasons the Los Angeles Lakers Trades Make Them Better

In Thursday’s trade deadline frenzy, the Lakers made out like bandits. Since their preseason three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets was vetoed for “basketball reasons,” many people have been wondering what the Lakers are going to do now. It all came to a head by the trade deadline.

The first trade was with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers traded Jason Kapono, Luke Walton and a draft pick for guard Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga. This was met with celebration from the Lakers fan base. Then, the next trade happened, which made sense in light of the first.

Lakers legend Derek Fisher was traded to the Houston Rockets along with the other first round draft pick that was acquired in the Odom to Dallas trade. In return, they got 24-year-old Jordan Hill, who picked eight overall in the 2009 draft.

In a press conference with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak following the trade deadline, he made comments about why they picked the players. About Ramon Sessions, he said:

We think Ramon of the three would make the immediate presence. We felt we needed more speed and quickness in the backcourt.

As for Hill, Kupchap said:

Jordan Hill is a young promising big man. He’s going to have to work and he's going to have to beat out the guys on this team to prove that.

Eyenga is going to play for the Defenders in the D-league to start. This is a realistic way for the Lakers to be thinking, and the game last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves proved that.

Hill did not dress and Sessions did not start, however, Sessions did play, making his first shot as a Laker. 

There are five big reasons why these trades make the Lakers better.

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