Leandro a Laker: Lakers May Have Answer For the Point
ABOVE: Leandro Barbosa is headed to Hollywood
7 Nov, Phoenix - The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a three player trade today. PG Leandro Barbosa will be traded to the Lakers in exchange for PF Slava Medvedenko and SF Laron Profit.
General Manager Will Sit finally looks like he is making the point guard rotation stronger for the Lakers although he admits, "Leandro isn't the best candidate to fill up our 1 guard spot but he does bring scoring to the table. Our initial aim was to get a playmaker but Barbosa has a lot of potential and he should do well." Barbosa who had fallen out of Coach Mike D'Antoni's rotation was becoming a non-factor on and off the court. The fiery Brazilian was on his first and final warning with the Suns after he punched teammate Steve Nash in the head during a training session. Nash was rushed to hospital and received 3 stitches to the forehead.
The Lakers only had to give away two of their bench players for Barbosa. Medvedenko, a veteran of Phil Jackson's system wasn't improving on his play from last season and Laron Profit's play has been limited. Profit who arrived in LA with C Kwame Brown from Washington just didn't adjust to the triangle offence. "It (Playing for LA) just wasn't what I thought it would be," Laron says, "They've (Lakers) got a great bunch of coaches, players and fans but it's not my type of team."
Barbosa gives the Lakers a solid scoring option on offense and although the lakers were looking for a jumpshooter, they will have to make do with Barbosa's slashing abilities. He is in his thrid NBA year after averaging 7 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg and 0.5 spg in just 17 mpg last season. He started 6 out of 63 games for the Suns.
The Lakers have started the season with back-to-back losses and play the Suns in their next game, which is also their first home game of the season.