Lakers Need to Trade for Baron Davis
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
Do it, Mitch
Baron Davis opted out of the final year of his contract, making him a free agent.
In order to beat the Celtics, the Lakers need to work a deal with the Golden State Warriors, who can sign -and-trade Baron Davis for Lamar Odom and Jordan Farmar.
Few teams can offer as much money as the Warriors can, but the Warriors are reportedly not interested in giving Baron a big extension – thus Davis’ choice to opt out.
But losing Baron Davis for nothing would be a terrible scenario for the Warriors, since Monta Ellis isn’t a point guard who can run a team. In Jordan Farmar, the Warriors get one of the best young point guards in the league and a playmaking, uptempo forward in Lamar Odom, who fits in perfectly with Don Nelson’s offense. And since Odom is expiring, the Warriors can essentially give him a test drive – and have the option to let him expire, or use his expiring contract as a trade asset.
For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant’s prime years aren’t wasted by gambling on Farmar’s development and Odom’s adjustment to his new role. Fisher has shown to be limited as a full-time starter, and Baron Davis would prevent Boston’s zone and overload defenses on Kobe in the Finals. Baron Davis can break defenses down, penetrate, make plays, drop bombs from three, and wreak havoc on defense. Davis’s ballhandling and playmaking abilities would also allow Kobe to move to the wing where he’s traditionally been much more efficient.
It would cost Buss a hefty luxury tax, but how many opportunities does a team get to acquire an elite point guard who only 29 years old? Buss needs to stop gambling on Odom and Farmar, at the cost of squandering Kobe’s prime. Putting his money on great talent and experience is a sure thing.
And what’s Buss doing, paying 80m a year just to fall short? Go all the way.