Trades may bring missing pieces to NBA

Patrick Hodgson


With the NBA trading deadline coming up Thursday, the only things for certain are that the 32 organizations’ phone lines will be ringing constantly and that their phone bills will be pretty high.

But these are just minimal concerns leading up to the deadline. The general managers of the NBA will have to act with urgency to earn their high priced salaries and to please the owners of the franchises by acquiring the missing piece of the puzzle that may get their team into the playoffs or better yet, propel their team to championship supremacy.

Some of the biggest names are being leaked, including former MVP Allen Iverson. However, the two most common names being shopped around in all this chaotic talk of trade are Lamar Odom and Steve Francis.

So let’s look at Exhibit A. Odom is averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds, however the Lakers find themselves in a despondent state as they are clinging on to the last spot of the Western Conference, in which they should probably be fifth or sixth.

While several teams would love to have a forward who can put up these numbers, many fans and more importantly, the Lakers organization expect more out of Odom. Odom has the ability to be a threat every night.

He is Scottie Pippen with more talent, but Odom does not put up Pippen numbers. Odom sometimes appears lackadaisical on the court in key moments of the game. The Lakers would like to see him average about six more points a game than he does now and become the force he is capable of being.

Enter Exhibit B. Francis is averaging 16 points and 6 assists for the Orlando Magic. The Magic appear to be heading toward a youth movement as it has made a few trades the last few weeks to get younger. Francis and the Magic have had their share of problems this season. The Magic wants to move on as does Francis. Francis, a four-time all-star selection is capable of averaging 20-plus points and 7-plus assist. He did that last year and I believe once traded he will start playing like an elite guard again.

So that brings me to my point: the Lakers and Magic discussing the possibility of swapping players. What this does is give the Lakers Francis and Kobe Bryant the best back court in the NBA. Francis would give the Lakers a true second option and the Lakers want have to depend on Kobe to go for 40 every night.

The Magic would get a man who has underachieved, but nevertheless is still a threat every night and is only 26 years old.

Odom combined with rising star Dwight Howard makes for a dominant front court in the East.

So should the two teams pull the trigger? I say yes. I love Odom’s game and feel he is greatly underappreciated at times by the Lakers and their fans, but you have to shake things up if you want to improve the team. The only question is if it’s for the better. While I cannot commit to an answer, one thing for certain is that on Thursday we will find out if Lakers General
Manager Mitch Kupchak can commit to one.

Calendar

Display Ads