Lakers Rumors: Tarik Black Could Be the First Domino to Fall
By Scott Asai
Nov 19, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black (10) defends during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. The Lakers won 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers adding Tarik Black isn’t headline news.
Black was waived by the Houston Rockets to clear a spot for newly acquired Josh Smith.
But this move by the Lakers is more than meets the eye. Before the season, Cleveland was interested in Robert Sacre (yes, you heard right). Now with Anderson Varejao‘s recent tear of his Achilles’ ending his season, the Cavaliers big men are thinner than a Mike D’Antoni coached-roster.
If the Cavs are desperate enough to take Sacre off of our hands (and books), then by all means do it. He isn’t taking up a lot of cap space, but he is one of the few players on contract past this season. Sacre was the last player picked in the 2012 draft and it’s surprising he’s still in the NBA (shows where the Lakers are).
All joking aside, this could be the first of many moves the Lakers can make before the trade deadline in February. As the Purple and Gold continue to struggle, it only makes sense to trade expiring contracts in hopes of acquiring better talent to lay the foundation for free agency in 2015.
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The following players are potential trade candidates based on their expiring contracts: Steve Nash, Jordan Hill, Jeremy Lin, Ryan Kelly, Wayne Ellington and Ed Davis. None carry great value, but if the Lakers can find some takers while upgrading their roster, they should pull the trigger.
The Lakers have to make a choice in the next 2 months: try to improve your current roster via trade or officially “tank” by leaving the roster as is. Based on management’s denial of losing on purpose, trades have to be on the way or it’s “all-in” for the lottery.
As a die-hard Lakers fans it’s hard to cheer for your team to “tank,” but if the Lakers stay pat with their current squad the product on the floor essentially communicates “lose more for Jahlil Okafor.”
The clock is ticking Lakers. What will you do?