NBA Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Chasing Greg Monroe, Brandon Jennings Shortsighted

Fresh Videos

By @AnthonyIrwinNBA

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers refuse to tank. Sure, losing as many games as possible would ensure them their top-five draft pick and help prepare the organization for life after Kobe Bryant, but to heck with logic. Instead, they’ve reportedly targeted Greg Monroe and Brandon Jennings of the Detroit Pistons because why not?

Yes, Monroe and Jennings have turned things around since the Pistons exiled Josh Smith, but what do the Lakers hope to get out of both players? At their very best, the Pistons can’t hope to challenge for anything more than a second-round exit from the playoffs with those two as their core, and that’s in the Eastern Conference. Would they even make the playoffs in the West?

Jennings makes a little more sense as he’s an immediate upgrade over any of the Lakers’ current point guards, but they’d be buying high on the fifth-year player. The Milwaukee Bucks basically gave up on him after years of poor shot selection and a mediocre-at-best attitude. That should tell the Lakers something. He’s under contract past this season, and would cut into any potential salary cap space the Lakers hope to use for free agents.

Monroe is simply not a fit at all. He is a poor rim protector and is pretty much slotted as a bruising power forward with little to no shooting range. Unless the Lakers believe rookie Julius Randle, who plays the same position naturally, can play the small forward, bringing Monroe in might mean sending the promising, young prospect to Detroit. If that’s the case, well, I don’t even want to think about it.

Owner Jim Buss might feel pressure to live up to his promise of contending within four years or so, but this is not the way to do it. The path forward is pretty simple: stink this year to draft someone and have at least two young pieces moving forward. Then, keep the flexibility it looks like the Lakers might have to try to bring in at least one or two quality assets this season, and go after a monster free agent when the opportunity arises.

Trading away assets like first-round draft picks or Randle just to bring in middling pieces like Monroe or Jennings does nothing but cement the Lakers’ place in NBA purgatory. In this league, you’re best off either at the top or at the very bottom. Fighting for the last spot or two in the playoffs only gives you the opportunity to be slaughtered by teams at the top of the conference.

This season has been nothing short of excruciating for Lakers fans. Watching as Nick Young shooting slumps become storylines has to be the low point, but trading the future for guys like Monroe or Jennings will do nothing but paralyze the franchise for years more.

That’s not what Jerry Buss stood for, and at some point, fans have to wonder whether his kids will ever get that.

Anthony F. Irwin is an NBA, NFL, MLB and NCAA Football contributor for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Send him an email at .

Share Tweet
Trending Now on