L.A. Lakers: Can Ricky Rubio Solve Point Guard Problems?

The NBA is faced with uncertainty as we approach a lockout that can wipe out the season.

With this uncertainty comes the fact that teams might be faced with a stringent salary cap after the lockout ends.

As the Lakers try to build a competitive team year after year, they know that Kobe Bryant is aging and they definitely need to start getting new stars in the near future to continue their NBA dominance.

The Lakers have been weak at the point guard position for years with the legendary, but old Derek Fisher playing the point. There has been speculation that Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and perhaps even Tony Parker would come to the Lakers to give them a fresh look at the point.

However, the Lakers are also interested in bringing in Dwight Howard. Howard will surely ask for plenty of money. Combine Howard's contract with Kobe Bryant's and Pau Gasol's large contracts and the Lakers are all of a sudden near the salary cap.

One break the Lakers do get is that they don't have to pay Phil Jackson eight figures anymore. Although the coach's salary does not show up in the salary cap, it does affect the way a team can spend over the cap. By not having to pay Jackson anymore, the Lakers can be more comfortable going over the cap.

But what if after the lockout, the new CBA has a hard salary cap much like the NHL's system where teams cannot spend over the cap at all?

What options do the Lakers now have for a solid yet affordable point guard?

How about Ricky Rubio?

It sounds like an odd choice. Rubio hasn't played particularly great in his seasons at FC Barcelona. He's never averaged more than 10.2 points per game in the Spanish League and his production has fallen off in the last two seasons. He's barely a 40% shooter and even his assist totals are not that high with only 3.5 per game this season.

But let's be real. Rubio's teammates in Barcelona have no where near the talent level as the Lakers do. They don't have Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum (or Dwight Howard), Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom. If Rubio is on the Lakers, he'll have better players to work with and it'll be a lot easier for him to facilitate. In Barcelona he has to be the guy. Even on the Wolves, he'll have to be the guy.