According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, the Memphis Grizzlies offered L.A. Jerryd Bayless in exchange for Jodie Meeks, but nothing came to fruition.
Standing pat was a wise decision on the part of the Lakers brass, as Meeks is in the midst of a career year and is one of the few bright spots for the team.
The 26-year-old is averaging 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.3 minutes per game, all career highs.
Meeks is shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc, which, if he can maintain them, will also hold up as the best figures of the shooting guard’s five-year tenure in the league.
While Bucher noted that the Grizzlies were hoping to shake up their roster after a disappointing 12-15 start to the 2013-14 campaign, they seem to be valuing Bayless a bit too highly.
The 25-year-old is putting up just 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game. His shooting splits are in the gutter, as he’s connecting on just 36.1 percent of his field goal attempts and 27.4 percent on three-point tries.
It’s clear as day that Meeks is the better player this season, and his $1.5 million salary is extremely reasonable for the tax-paying Lakers. Considering Bayless is owed $3.1 million this year, L.A. would have to throw in another piece to make the proposed deal work under the cap.
Perhaps the only reason why the Lakers would possibly take a second to give this trade offer some thought is that Bayless is a better ball-handler and could come in to run the offense in a pinch.
L.A. is struggling to find consistent, h...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
