Nearing the midway point of the 2019-20 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have a sense of where they stand in terms of the 2020 NBA Finals.
At 26-7 through 33 games, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and company currently have the Western Conference’s best record despite a recent slide.
Although the Lakers are a true championship contender, general manager Rob Pelinka reportedly is still interested in upgrading the roster for April to June.
One area for improvement is at the point guard position and it appears one could return in February now, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
After a stunning retirement prior to free agency, veteran guard Darren Collison is considering a February return to the NBA – with the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers emerging as his preferred destinations, league sources told ESPN.
However, it is unlikely Collison returns before the 2019-20 NBA trade deadline:
It is unlikely that a Collison comeback would come before the NBA’s Trade Deadline on February 6. The Lakers and Clippers are also competing to acquire Andre Iguodala, who is waiting for Memphis to trade him.
Heading into 2019 NBA free agency, Collison was viewed as a potential option if the Lakers could not sign a third All-Star player and wanted to break up their max-contract slot. However, he suddenly retired for religious reasons.
Although the Lakers have three point guards, Collison would be an upgrade. In addition, he previously played for head coach Frank Vogel during the 2010-12 NBA seasons with the Indiana Pacers, which should be a significant factor.
Before retiring, the 32-year-old averaging 11.2 points (46.7 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from the three-point line) and 6.0 assists in Indiana.
Along with Collison’s potential comeback, the Lakers will have opportunities to improve via the trade deadline and March 1 buyout deadline. However, considering their current contracts, the buyout market appears more likely.
If the Lakers can add another playmaker and wing defender to an already strong roster, their chances of winning it all will significantly improve.
