NBA icon Paul Pierce believes the Los Angeles Lakers should forego approaching Darren Collison in favour of going after either Jamal Crawford or Anre Iguodala. The Lakers sit top of the Western Conference having lost just seven games all season and are strong favourites to win the championship this year.
Standing in their way could well be a meeting with the LA Clippers in the postseason, who have so far got the better of the battle in Los Angeles through two games at the Staples Centre.
That has led to some suggestions the Lakers could enter the trade market ahead of the February 6 deadline.
But it has also been reported the Lakers could be in the market for Collison, who announced a surprise retirement from the NBA last summer.
The 32-year-old reportedly wants a return to the NBA and has his eyes set on one of the two LA teams.
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Both teams would need to shed a player to bring anyone in as they have full rosters but he would be available to sign for the prorated minimum.
But Pierce believes Iguodala would be the much better fit for the Lakers with the main focus being on the playoffs.
“Iguodala is the only one that kind of pushes the line a bit because he gives them another defender, a veteran leader, a ball-handler,” he said on NBA Countdown
“With those other guys, I’m not sure if it’s just going to be an arms race to keep that one guy away from the other team.