The Los Angeles Lakers struggled last season for many reasons, but poor three-point shooting was at the top of the list.
In 2021-22, L.A. was 17th in three-point attempts, 18th in three-pointers made and 22nd in three-point percentage.
Heading into the offseason, a big objective for the front office was getting some shooters. Thus far, that hasn’t really happened.
Fortunately, two interesting candidates have become linked to the Lakers in recent weeks: Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield. Either one would provide a massive boost from beyond the arc. And between Russell Westbrook and the team’s future first round picks, they are realistic trade targets.
There’s just one roadblock currently standing in the way.
The Lakers will not pull the trigger on a deal for Eric Gordon or Buddy Hield until they know absolutely for sure that a Kyrie trade will not happen.
(via @mcten)pic.twitter.com/s6ae1ILlMR
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 22, 2022
“We’ve heard Darvin Ham say it, we’ve heard Rob Pelinka say it,” ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin noted this week.
“This team is still lacking shooting to be a top-tier contender in the Western Conference. The problem is, right now, they have 13 roster spots filled and there’s two spots open.
“But all the shooters on the market when it comes to free agency, they’re not on a team for a reason, because they do one thing really well but they don’t necessarily defend well enough to get minutes.
“So they had to look to the trade market, to Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield. The Lakers have an interest in finding a trade package for both of them but I am of the opinion that they will not pull the trigger on a deal for Eric Gordon or Buddy Hield until they know absolutely for sure that a Kyrie trade will not happen.”
The Lakers need to figure this out. They have no choice.
Westbrook is and will continue to be a catastrophe in every possible way. He must go. According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, a trade of some type centering around him is looming. If it will be the Plan A deal or the Plan B deal is not totally clear at the moment.
Yikes. https://t.co/CTLjdLnhuA
— Game 7 (@game7__) July 23, 2022
But however L.A. chooses to play it, they must get shooters in return.
Will the Lakers be able to fill their biggest hole and restore some semblance of respectability to a once-proud franchise in 2022-23?
Time will tell.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
