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Getting to the point ... guard that is

Question: Do you see the Lakers trying to make a move for a point guard? Smush Parker is decent, but he gambles and gets beat on the defensive end, and his outside shooting is so inconsistent. He seems to be more of a liability than the consistent point the Lakers need (even though the triangle does not use your typical point guard).

— Marcus Wilson

Answer: The Feb. 22 trade deadline is coming up quickly. Crazy things often happen leading up to it, making it almost impossible to predict what will take place. I'm guessing the Lakers will stick with what they have at point guard, although the limb I'm going out on is a shaky one.

I think it comes down to this: The Lakers drafted Jordan Farmar with an eye toward the future. If they acquire a veteran point guard before the deadline, how will Farmar feel? And would that player be around for just this season or beyond that?

Farmar has shown bursts of talent. An Eastern Conference scout who watched a recent Lakers game was impressed by his speed and on-court intellect. The Lakers could keep him under contract for three more seasons before they have to negotiate a new (and presumably more expensive) contract to keep him. If a veteran acquired at the deadline stays with the Lakers for, say, two of those seasons, what happens to Farmar's minutes?

(There are exceptions. If Jason Kidd were to somehow become available or, to a lesser degree, Andre Miller, there would be quite a few interested teams. I'm sure the Lakers would lob a phone call or two as well. Both of those players have two more seasons left on their contracts, Kidd for a total of $41 million, Miller for a more manageable $19 million. But, remember, Farmar is the Lakers' point guard of the future.)

As for Smush Parker, he might or might not be back with the team. The next several months will be important for him. He makes only $798,000, one of the lowest salaries for an NBA starter, and will almost surely command more than that during the off-season as a free agent. Maybe the Lakers keep him, maybe they don't.

See more at www.latimes.com