Earlier this week, it was reported that Darren Collison would consider coming out of retirement in February, and that he was considering joining the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers.
But according to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, it looks like the Purple and Gold aren’t limiting their options to the former University of California, Los Angeles standout.
“The Lakers have inquired about a number of potential veteran backup point guards and one potential target could come onto the trade market in the coming weeks: Orlando guard D.J. Augustin,” Deveney wrote. “The Lakers can’t trade a second-round pick until 2023, but the team does have rookie Talen Horton-Tucker, originally drafted by Orlando before he was traded to the Lakers, on hand.”
Augustin, 32, is currently with the Orlando Magic. He’s averaging 10.6 points and 4.8 assists per game this season, although he’s shooting a dismal 39.4 percent from the field.
If the Lakers do make a sincere attempt to trade for him, the fact that he’s making just $7.5 million this year will help.
“There’s not a lot they can do with the assets that they have,” one league executive told Heavy.com. “Whatever they can pull together, they’re going to try to get help at the point guard spot.”
Coming into this season, it looked like the Lakers would be able to give LeBron James enough of a respite in terms of handling the ball. They re-signed veteran point guard Rajon Rondo and brought in Avery Bradley for that very purpose.
But Rondo has declined somewhat, and Bradley has been a big disappointment.
Adding a point guard who can attack in the open court, make plays for others and hit the 3-ball at a dependable rate would solidify the Lakers’ championship chances greatly.
