The NBA season is nearing its halfway point and a couple of contending teams are looking to add a player they think will strengthen them for the playoffs- and they are both in L.A.
Kenyon Martin was scooped up by the Los Angeles Clippers after he was free to leave his Chinese team, but he might not be the only player the Clippers sign from China. When J.R. Smith returns to the states later in the week from his stint there he will have a selection of teams to choose from.
The New York Knicks have been linked with Smith the most over the recent weeks, but it isn’t the optimal destination for him or the Knicks. Chris Paul is confident he will 
join the Clippers, and as far as team chemistry goes they would be the better fit.
The Knicks have enough players who want the ball, and none of them are particularly known for their leadership. The Clippers have a hole at the shooting guard position with Chauncey Billups’s injury and Smith possesses the dynamics on the court to make up for that void. The Clippers also have enough “strong” personalities and team leadership to make sure Smith stays focused and team oriented, which he has been known to stray away from doing.
The Lakers are interested in adding an experienced point guard to come in and bolster their current situation that features an aging Derek Fisher and an inexperienced Darius Morris. The player circulating a lot of buzz as being the guy the Lakers might bring in is Gilbert Arenas. He has worked out with the them and has the blessing of Kobe Bryant so it wouldn’t be surprising if he signed with the Lakers soon.
That being said Arenas hasn’t been a n elite player in the NBA for a few years now so it’s questionable how much of an impact he can actually make. A more productive move for the Lakers to make might be acquiring Cleveland Cavaliers back-up point guard Ramon Sessions.
Sessions is averaging 10.1 points and 5.7 assists per game this year, and has flourished in the starting lineup since Kyrie Irving went down with his concussion. Sessions would give the Lakers a more dynamic threat at point guard than Arenas, and could potentially develop into the long-term answer.
Depending on Cleveland’s asking price, it is more sensible to trade for a player who could help your team now and in the future rather than sign a troublesome player in the hopes he will find some of his old form.