The Lakers have reportedly made or fielded calls about trades involving a large number players varying from the Charlotte Bobcats' Stephen Jackson to the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony. Most of the trades being discussed are more than minor tweaks, and a majority of them involve moving at least one starter.
While some of the moves that have been discussed probably sound good to the Lakers, I don't think any of the players being linked to L.A. will be able to come and have a positive season-altering effect on the team.
Don't get me wrong, obviously the addition of someone like Anthony or Jackson would be a positive for the Lakers. But at the cost of Ron Artest or Andrew Bynum, how much help would either of those guys really be towards winning a third consecutive championship?
Most L.A. fans would gladly exchange Bynum for Anthony, and while they may love watching Kobe and Melo scorch defenses at first, I'm not sure they would have the same feeling of enjoyment while watching opposing big men trash their team in the paint and on the glass without Bynum patrolling down low.
The Lakers would be foolish to part with their seven-foot enforcer for a smaller player, especially when they aren't overflowing with size.
While Artest may cause teammates, coaches and fans an occasional headache or two with his antics, his lockdown defense would be greatly missed in postseason. Unless Artest actually made a trade request, I can't picture the Lakers moving him before the deadline either.
Although trading someone from the starting line-up may be a bad idea for the Lakers, a smaller move to improve the quality of the bench might be someth...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
