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Yahoo! Contributor NetworkLakers Bring in Gilbert Arenas for a Workout
The Los Angeles Lakers hit the panic button a couple of weeks ago and ridiculousness has ensued.
From rumors of interest in former NBA star Allen Iverson to trade talks involving a number of players, the Lakers have been desperately searching for someone who can turn their season around before it's too late.
A couple weeks ago, rumors surfaced that the Lakers were interested in veteran free agent Gilbert Arenas as a potential candidate to take over the starting point guard position. Apparently, they evolved from rumors to reality today.
From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports: "In a search to find some scoring for their floundering offense, Los Angeles Lakers officials attended a private workout for guard Gilbert Arenas on Sunday in Southern California, league sources told Yahoo! Sports."
Despite all of the numerous names that have popped up over the past week or so, Arenas seems to be one of the most promising prospects on the Lakers' radar. Not only is he one of the younger targets (surprisingly), but he's a proven playmaker in the NBA and still has a few good years left in him if he can stay healthy.
Wojarowski continued: "Two sources familiar with the workout said Arenas moved well and made a positive impression, but there was no sense of how quickly - if at all - the Lakers would pursue signing him to a free-agent contract."
Busy securing a win against the Toronto Raptors this afternoon, none of the Lakers' coaching staff, including head coach Mike Brown, were able to attend the workout.
The Lakers are at a point in the season where every game matters. Although they're still alive and well in the playoff hunt, close games and lackluster offense has become a huge concern. Veteran point guards Derek Fisher and Steve Blake have been ineffective and their two rookies are raw and unprepared to take on starting roles. With Arenas in the mix, the Lakers could potentially have a decent facilitator who can also stretch the defense with his shooting. If he can upgrade the Lakers' offense, they'll have a much better chance of making a postseason run.
Arenas hasn't seen the court since December, when he was released by the Orlando Magic via the league's new amnesty clause. Teams have shown little interest in him recently due to his off-court issues and knee injuries that have hindered his ability to be a productive player.
Whether or not the Lakers decide to give Arenas a shot is still to be seen. Either way, what the aging veteran will bring to the table couldn't be any worse than some of the names that the rumor mill has churned out in the past week. Stay tuned.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Los Angeles native and long-time Lakers follower. For more Lakers coverage, follow him on Twitter.
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