Deron Williams, Not Chris Paul, Is Best Option for Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers watched from the sidelines as "Jimmer Mania" finally came to a conclusion Thursday night.

Without a first-round pick, the Lakers were not among the teams involved in constant speculation regarding Jimmer Fredette.  

However, this is not to say that Los Angeles remained free from speculation, because they didn't.

Rumors are still swirling in regards to the Lakers pursuing one of the premier 2012 free-agents-to-be in Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Many have the Lakers' first choice on that list being Howard, but Orlando maintains they are not entertaining offers for the superstar center.

Whether or not the Magic truly aren't accepting offers for Howard, it's time for the Lakers to shift their attention to the two point guards who head the 2012 free-agent class.

Paul is a name that has been thrown around an awful lot around Los Angeles, and who can blame them? On the season, he averaged 15.8 points, 9.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. And then we cannot forget the clinic he put on against the Lakers during the first round of the playoffs.

Against Los Angeles in the postseason, Paul averaged 22 points, 11.5 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. While the Hornets fell, the Lakers just could not find an answer for Paul.

Paul would be an instant upgrade on both ends of the floor over the aging Derek Fisher. His court vision is tremendous and his defense is impeccable. Additionally, his transition into purple and gold would be effortless because his facilitating mindset compliments Kobe perfectly.

Williams, the other top-tier point guard of the 2012 free agency class, has not been mentioned much as a possible target for the Lakers.

This comes as a surprise, but expect Williams to Los Angeles rumors to increase as times goes on?

Why exactly?

Because as time goes on, the Lakers are going to realize th...

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