The Benefits of Jeremy Lin on the Laker Roster

Feb 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake (5) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers forward Hollis Thompson (31) during the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. The Lakers defeated the Sixers 112-98. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers needed a healthy, starter-worthy point guard.  

The trade wasn’t just affected by the health of Steve Nash, but trading away Steve Blake to the Golden State Warriors as well. Steve Blake had some mamba-blood of his own, always willing to pick a fight against anyone, I mean anyone, who dared to push him around.  Kobe Bryant respected him for that. However, Blake was supposed to be a part of a contending team. The Lakers couldn’t give that to him with Nash and Bryant injured almost all of last year.  Once he was traded for Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks, the Lakers effectively banked on the idea of cap space.  Brooks and Bazemore weren’t just cheap contracts, they were expiring ones as well.