The injury to Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash has general managers around the NBA waiting by their phones for a call from Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak.
Against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, coach Mike D’Antoni will slide Steve Blake to the point guard position with Jodie Meeks taking over shooting guard duties. With just Blake and Jordan Farmar on the roster listed as “point guards” Kupchak might be looking to add another according to Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com:
League executives who spoke to FOX Sports Ohio wondered if the Lakers, attempting to stay in position for a playoff berth while waiting for Bryant’s return, have the assets to make a move should they explore a trade for a point guard.
At 3-5, the Lakers don’t look like the team that beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Opening Night as Pau Gasol is going through the toughest statistical stretch of his Laker career. It’s easy to panic and exaggerate about how the Lakers are playing, but there’s been nothing to suggest this team is capable of being a playoff team.
Making a fair assessment of the Lakers would be best after a quarter of the season, but if things don’t improve, you’d have to think Kupchak would like to deal Gasol as it seems he and D’Antoni aren’t meshing well.
In the same report, Amico spoke to a GM who’s already preparing a response to Kupchak when he comes calling:
We have a good idea which players (on the roster) he’ll ask about,” said one GM. We’re already preparing counter offers.
With five of their next six games at home, we’ll know more about what type of team the Lakers will be as Kupchak looks to improve the roster without Nash for at least two weeks.
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