One man’s trash is another’s treasure. What’s true in life is equally truthful in the NBA. Currently the Cleveland Cavaliers see little value in having Ramon Sessions behind top pick Kyrie Irving. Just a few years ago Sessions, a former second round pick from Nevada, was good enough to earn a four-year deal valued at $16-million. Pretty good for a guy that entered the league with nothing more than the promise of getting an invite to camp.
Two years into that deal and Sessions has played for two different teams. Originally he inked his contract with
Minnesota but the Wolves made a move and shipped him off to Cleveland where he enjoyed the best season of his career. But that too was short lived as the LeBron-less Cavs used the first pick in the draft to grab Irving out of Duke.
Now word on the street is the Cavs are looking to ship Sessions out. Rumor has it the Lakers are interested in taking the current backup point out of Cleveland.
Where the Cavs see a contract too large for a reserve the Lakers see an upgrade at the point guard position. That is why trade talks are said to be underway.
Sessions isn’t an All-Star by any measure but he’s got a decent stroke and will instantly increase the Lakers’ athleticism in the backcourt.
Finally that Lamar Odom deal is showing some reward. Thanks to an exception acquired in the deal the Lake Show has a cool $8.9-million to play with in potential trades. Maybe its time people like me start giving Mitch Kupchak the benefit of the doubt. The whole Kwame Brown deal was easily forgotten once Pau Gasol arrived.
However Sessions is nowhere near the caliber of Pau. But that hardly matters. Currently the Lakers are running with Derek Fisher in the starting five with rookies Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock behind him. D-Fish is pushing 40, Morris is a work in progress and Goudelock wasn’t even a point in college.
Sessions would bring an added dimension. He’s not great from behind the arc but his shot is good enough and he’s nice in the open court. Plus the Lakers would be getting themselves someone else capable of hitting double figures on average.
Any extra scoring punch is a necessity at this point. Back in ’09 Ramon dropped a career high 44 on the Pistons. Laker fans might also remember his career best game of 10 boards against the Lake Show that same season.
There is still some rumbling of Gilbert Arenas getting a looksee in L.A. but signing a free agent Arenas is a foolish as trading for Arenas. His better days are behind him and the Van Nuys native would most definitely be distracted playing in his hometown.
Sessions might not be a big splash but he is a definite upgrade. Right about now the Lakers need help in any way they can get it…just not from Arenas.