Lakers Rumors: Nate Robinson Would Provide LA Much-Needed Scoring Punch, The Los Angeles Lakers will have to put their pursuit of another championship on hold in 2013-14, but that doesn't mean the Lake Show should tank in hopes of winning the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes next summer.
Sure, L.A. is currently in no shape to challenge the likes of San Antonio, Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Golden State and others in the loaded Western Conference. But the Lakers (who still have aging All-Stars in Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol) can still make things interesting.
According to Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy, the Lakers are one of several teams interested in free agent point guard Nate Robinson.
Mitch Kupchak and the L.A. front office have already made some serious changes to their back court this summer, adding names like Jordan Farmar, Wesley Johnson and Nick Young to the mix. But landing a offensive spark like Robinson could be the difference between whether the Lakers sink or stay afloat during Kobe Bryant's expected early-season absence.
Robinson played in all 82 regular-season games for the Chicago Bulls last season, averaging 13.1 points and 4.4 assists in just over 25 minutes per game for the Derrick Rose-less squad.
But the 2013 postseason is where and when the 29-year-old Robinson reminded the rest of the league what he's capable of when on the very top of his game. The veteran floor general averaged a playoff career-high 16.3 points and 4.4 assists per game in 12 games against the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.
Even more impressive, Robinson was a much more efficient scorer in 2012-13. He shot slightly better than 40 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season. It was the first time since his 26-game regular-season run with the Boston Celtics in 2009-10 that he managed to shoot better than 40 percent from downtown.
During Chicago's postseason run, Robinson shot a playoff career-best 44 percent from the floor, and you can bet the Lakers are well aware.
Not including Bryant, only one Lakers perimeter player averaged double-figures in scoring last season, and that was 39-year-old point guard Steve Nash. With Nash set to turn 40 next season and Bryant likely to miss a handful of games next fall while he recovers from an Achilles injury, the Lakers back court will be desperate for a scoring punch, and more importantly, a spark.
While it's fair to question Nate Robinson's decision making and shot selection from time to time, there's no denying that the veteran guard would provide a huge boost for L.A.'s offense in 2013-14.
1 year ago
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