"Here's something else to watch: The Portland Trailblazers were telling teams over the weekend they had a chance to acquire Los Angeles Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic and wondered whether teams might have an interest in obtaining him. This prompted several executives to suggest the Blazers were working on a three-team trade, including one Eastern Conference general manager who had been told the elements of the package included Thomas and Vujacic to Portland, the Bulls' Kirk Hinrich to Los Angeles, and the Lakers' Adam Morrison, another expiring deal and a first-round pick to the Bulls."
Indeed, the interest is definite on the side of the Los Angeles Lakers, where Jerry Buss and management feel that the one weakness the Lakers must improve on is shoring up the guard spot, particularly against speedy, penetrating point guards who have diced up the Lakers' defense the past season.
Derek Fisher is considered too slow to contain guards such as Boston's Rajon Rondo, Cleveland's Mo Williams, and Orlando's Jameer Nelson. In addition, Farmar lacks enough strength to compete on equal footing with quick, yet tough point guards in the West Conference such as Denver's Chauncey Billups and Dallas' Jason Kidd. Hence, this is where Kirk Hinrich fits into the picture.
Hinrich would help the Lakers fend off such speedy point guards, a problem they've struggled with for years. In Phil Jackon's triangle offense, Hinrich would not be required to shoulder a heavy offensive load. Rather, he would be called upon to commit himself to the stingy defense such as he played on Boston's Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo in the 2009 playoffs.
For Jerry Buss, the cost may not justify the benefit.
Whereas Hinrich is owed nearly $17 million throughout the remainder of his con...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
