The Los Angeles Lakers may be on the cusp of losing the grips of this season, but as more losses pile up, the team’s future becomes brighter and brighter. If the season ended today, they sit at the fourth spot in the 2015 NBA Draft. Of course that hinges upon the lottery balls, otherwise the pick goes over to the Phoenix Suns.
Aside from being in the lottery pack, Los Angeles has three other selections, including a first-rounder from the Houston Rockets, and two second-round picks.
The only thing that fans believed could save the team from following up last season’s 27-55 (franchise-worst record) was the return of Kobe Bryant. Even Bryant’s mythical ways and magical surgeries, including infusing German vampire blood into his legs, could not spare the team en route to the fourth-lowest win total in the league.
Rumblings centered around Bryant and the possibility of a shut-down have come up, as Mike Trudell reported earlier this week:
Byron Scott said the Lakers won't even consider shutting down Kobe for the season just for rest. It's not something they discuss.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 14, 2015
The fans may be distraught if the decision were ever pursued, but it could help the team in the long run. By February’s All-Star break, the Lakers will likely have an idea of where they will go with Bryant’s remaining two seasons under contract.
Speaking of February, count on the Lakers to ramp up trade inquiries and looking to acquire more draft picks. The talk around the team has been centered on its workable contracts, mainly players like Jordan Hill, Ed Davis, and Jeremy Lin. News has come out from the Sacramento Kings that they are in the market for frontcourt help, and they have made last season’s eighth overall pick, Nik Stauskas, available.
CBS Sports’ Ken Berger reported on Thursday that the Kings are looking to find bodies behind DeMarcus Cousins.
.@CBSSports sources: Seeking front-court upgrade, Kings willing to put Nik Stauskas in deal. http://t.co/an2Q7c1XBl
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) January 15, 2015
Why would Los Angeles be interested in this move? Consider that the team can add Stauskas to other members of their younger bunch. With Tarik Black, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Ryan Kelly in the fold, the Lakers may finally build continuity in youth for the next several years. If the team can keep its picks, it could mean more of the same and expedite their rebuild.
Nik Stauskas’ rookie year isn’t telling of his ability as a dead-eye shooter. At the University of Michigan, he was a career 44 percent shooter from long range and his size at 6’6’’ makes him an ideal NBA small forward. Considering that Wes Johnson is the only player soaking up minutes at this position, Stauskas could find time to prove his contributions if the Lakers pursued him.
With a plethora of needs on offense, the one thing you can count on with Stauskas is him helping the team’s shooting. His ability to spread the floor would definitely settle the team on offense.
As the Lakers find an identity, Stauskas could also make some interesting combinations with fellow shooter, Ryan Kelly. At power and small forward, defenses would have to pick their poison as both evolve on both ends of the floor.
Of course, the Lakers and Kings would have to cover the financial grounds if either team wanted to strike a deal. Jordan Hill is raking in $18 million over the next two seasons, with a team option for next year. Stauskas’ contract is on the rookie scale at $2.7 million over four years, so a straight-up deal would not be enough.
The Kings could include forward Derrick Williams in the deal, adding his one-year, $6 million salary to even things out. The Lakers could get two prospects on the perimeter, while the Kings satisfy interior help.
The trade deadline is a little over a month away, so the two teams will be under a watchful eye. Moves on either side could affect a lot of things in the future for both. If the Lakers are smart, they make a phone call to their California counterpart.