The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

IN a nutshell, my Lakers have struck out in all attempts to pair a second star with James.

And based on what we have heard, it doesn’t look like Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant have any plans of signing with the Lakers in free agency this offseason.

Taking that into consideration, like I mentioned here last week, the Lakers may have to change gears a bit and try to land one of the second-tier free agents.

Not Leonard or Durant calibre, but someone who is still really, really good and can help the team significantly.

Enter Charlotte Hornets PG Kemba Walker, with the prevailing consensus that he will be playing his basketball elsewhere next season.

• Here are three reasons why the Lakers should pursue Walker.

Memories for LeBron

James already knows how to play with a guard of Walker’s style, (Kyrie Irving) and having Walker would certainly take a whole lot of the offensive pressure off of him.

LeBron would not have to constantly be the primary ball-handler, as Walker is more than capable of running an offence.

In addition to that, James would not have to be the No. 1 scorer every night, because Walker is nearly as good of a scorer as Irving, and there are few players in the league who are more lethal than Walker when he is in the zone.

Clutch - Okay it’s true that we haven’t seen much of Walker in the playoffs, as he has only made two postseason appearances.

In that small sample size, he was dynamite, especially as a fourth-quarter scorer.

Don’t forget his college pedigree and accomplishments at UConn where he led the Huskies to a Big East Tournament title and then pushed them to a National Championship back in 2011.

Lakers need somebody

The Lakers are in an incredibly tough spot right now. None of the biggest free agents seem to want to sign there, and rival teams also don’t seem all that willing to make blockbuster trades with Los Angeles.

With LeBron turning 35 years old in December, the clock is ticking on his window of opportunity, and so is the Lakers’ clock with it. Unlike guys like Leonard and Durant, Walker may be amenable to joining LA.

Walker has yet to play for a true contender throughout his NBA career, and you would have to think he is starving for the chance to do so. Walker also does not seem to have a big ego, and there really isn’t all that much pressure on him as a star, because no one views him as a top-10 player in the league.

The Lakers need to sign somebody this offseason, and why not someone who wants to be there.

Walker seems like the perfect pairing.

Next week, Seth Curry and Tobias Harris on Lakers’ free agent radar.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.