The Los Angeles Lakers headed into the 2019-20 NBA season with championship aspirations with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way for the storied franchise. As the team approaches the halfway point of the season, they've exceeded expectations with the best record in the Western Conference at 33-7.
However, this team isn't without its flaws as they've become dependent on James being the primary ball-handler and playmaker. Although LeBron has lived up to the responsibility being a point forward for this team, the Lakers could use some help along with an added boost when it comes to outside shooting.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, one very viable option is available and would reportedly love to sign with one of the two titles contenders in L.A. UCLA product Darren Collison may have retired abruptly this past summer taking one of the best point guards and shooters off the free-agent market, but he appears ready to get back to work with both the Lakers and L.A. Clippers being intriguing destinations.
Another reason the Lakers have a need at the point guard position has been the play and unreliability of Rajon Rondo. Despite flashes of his old form like he showed in the win over the Oklahoma City Thunder recently when he came two assists shy of a triple-double, Rondo has played only 27 games this season due to injuries and is injured once again suffering a finger fracture in the game against Oklahoma City.
With the injuries piling up for Rondo and his effectiveness not what it used to be, Collison would be a considerable upgrade for the Lakers, especially considering how much of a threat he can be from beyond the arc. The 32-year-old guard shot an impressive 39.4 percent from deep during his career, and during the 2017-18 season with the Indiana Pacers was as deadly as any player in the league from distance at a ridiculous 48.6 percent.
Collison shot 40 percent or better from the three-point line five times during his career. He's extremely efficient and also a solid free-throw shooter at 85.3 for his career. The Lakers are currently shooting 74.2 percent from the charity stripe and could use a boost in that area as well.
As of Jan. 14, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the team's best three-point shooter at 43.1 percent. Caldwell-Pope has bounced back with a vengeance after a disastrous start to the season to become one of the team's most efficient shooters. Danny Green is also shooting a respectable 38.7 percent from deep, but there's a considerable drop off from there for players that have attempted 100 or more shots from three-range.
LeBron has the most attempts on the team with 231 but is only connecting 35.1 percent of the time. Kyle Kuzma is worse at 34.6, followed by Davis at 29.7 percent.
Collison may not be the distributor that Rondo is, and he's nowhere near the level of James in that area, but he'd be a solid all-around addition to this Lakers team. Los Angeles may be red-hot while on yet another impressive win streak (9), but Rob Pelinka and the team's front office need to start thinking about a deep run in the playoffs and whether this team can continue to play at a high level for an extended period without depth in the backcourt and another threat from deep.
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