Lakers in the News 9/21/15 - 9/27/15: Which Lakers will develop into 'core players'?

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:23 am Post subject:

Mitch Kupchak will speak with the media today at 1:00pm PT.

Stream it live at http://www.nba.com/lakers/live_stream

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:26 am Post subject:

Offseason Wrap-Up: On-Court Progress
by Joey Ramirez - nba.com

With training camp beginning in less than a week, it is almost time for the Lakers to begin jockeying for starting roles and playing time.

This competition is largely fueled by the work put in over the summer. Below is a look at how each member of the roster has used the offseason in preparation for camp.

http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/150923_offseasononcourt?cid=tw

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:19 am Post subject:

Here's the unveiling of the Lakers' oncourt @stancehoops socks
by @MarkG_Medina

https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/647093366677606400

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:21 am Post subject:

Los Angeles Lakers: Point Guard Outlook
by Jackson Sanders - hoopshabit.com

The point guard position will be a focal point for the Los Angeles Lakers.

If picking D’Angelo Russell with the second overall selection in the NBA Draft over center Jahlil Okafor didn’t tip you off, there are other indicators. Their biggest signing this offseason was a point guard, albeit a scoring one, in Lou Williams.

The team’s best player last season, Jordan Clarkson, should team with Russell in the backcourt, providing the Lakers with a potentially potent one-two punch of capable point guards in the starting lineup. Heck, the head coach was even a point guard, albeit briefly.

The Lakers have wanted to improve at the position for quite some time. Ramon Sessions, Steve Nash, and Jeremy Lin are all players they’ve tried, but with very limited success. Now, it’s clear that the future of the franchise is invested in producing a top flight player distributing the ball.

http://hoopshabit.com/2015/09/24/los-angeles-lakers-point-guard-outlook/

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:23 am Post subject:

Five things to watch in Brandon Bass’ 2015-16 season
by Mark Medina - insidesocal.com

Below is the sixth in a series looking at five things surrounding each notable player on the Lakers’ roster for the 2014-15 season. This post focuses on Lakers forward Brandon Bass.

1. Will Bass become the Lakers’ starting power forward?

The Lakers might consider Julius Randle a key ingredient of their long-term future. But Lakers coach Byron Scott does not intend to hand him the keys to the Ferrari just yet. Scott has said that Bass and Randle for compete for minutes at the starting power forward spot. Though Scott hopes that Randle wins the competition, Scott’s preference stems from hoping Randle expedites his development than showing any favoritism. Besides, the Lakers will handle Randle cautiously if he has any setbacks after missing nearly all of his rookie season after fracturing the right tibia in his right leg in the team’s season opener.

Throughout his 10-year NBA career, Bass has experienced both starting and coming off the bench. After spending his first five NBA seasons as a reserve, Bass spent one season in Orlando and five seasons in Boston playing both roles. The Lakers expect him to be dependable in the rotation after averaging 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds through his entire career. But it’s not necessarily a good thing if Bass starts for the Lakers. That means Randle is either behind on his development and/or nursing some lingering affects from his surgically repaired right leg.

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2015/09/24/five-things-to-watch-in-brandon-bass-2015-16-season/

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject:

Eric is live tweeting Mitch PC

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 12:44 pm Post subject:

Mitch PC recap via @EricPincus tweets:

Kupchak on Kobe minutes: No formal discussion yet with Byron or in front office - TBD

Kupchak: Kobe not likely to practice twice a day, every day through training camp

Kupchak: Kobe looks great, but how many minutes, back-to-backs, etc. - all remains to be seen - hasn't been determined yet

Kupchak: Kobe has been doing his normal workout routine for 6-7 weeks, praticed yesterday at Lakers gym - looked like Kobe

Kupchak: storylines include Kobe's return, Randle's return, D'Angelo, Hibbert, etc.

Kupchak: Lakers will be more competitive this year than last, but he noted that's not saying much, given last year

Mitch has said he wants the team to stay healthy about 3-4 times in past few minutes

Kupchak wants to see Roy HIbbert have an All-Star year

Kupchak: D'Angelo will get chance to play from game 1, isn't sure if starter or bench, likes what he's seen last 6 weeks more so than summer

Kupchak: It's unusual for a 19-year old to immediately live up to their draft status re: Russell

Kupchak: Drafted Russell with notion that he could share backcourt with Clarkson - team believes they can play together

Kupchak: Randle - a great last 3 months - was over-eager in summer league w/min. restriction - did too much but at gym, every morning/night

Kupchak: Randle has scrimmaged every day for the last 60 days. Is in great shape, still an unknown - has to find niche in league

Kupchak: We're going to try and win every game - Byron may go vets over kids to close out games, up to the coach

Kupchak: What Byron does is going to be based on development of the kids, but they'll need some time to learn how to do it, how NBA works

Kupchak: Lakers goal, as it is every year, is to win a championship - would never say otherwise - realistically, expectations different

Kupchak: Upshaw very talented, no secret he was dismissed from 2 schools, but feel they know issues, God-given gifts, young, worth gamble

Kupchak: It's all up to Upshaw to earn that in training camp

Kupchak: Metta signing? "It's a possibility"

Kupchak: Metta can still play, but in NBA on 82-game schedule? Can team use roster spot, have to be careful. TBD because of young kids

Kupchak: We'll keep the best player, if that means cutting a player with a guaranteed contract - if close more likely guaranteed player, but If a guaranteed player is out-played by non-g, and Lakers can't find a trade, they would consider cutting that despite salary hit

Kupchak: Choosing not to address the Jim Buss timeline - but said team hasn't rushed to trade youth to add "winning" vets

Kupchak: Lakers have more trade pieces than they did last year - doesn't mean they'll trade but more to bring to table

Kupchak: Believes Lakers will be a strong ball-movement team this year

Kupchak: Huertas isn't a "threat" to the young guards long-term as far as fighting in rotation, part of why they went with the vet

Kupchak: HIbbert could be the Lakers' best mid-range shooter - there primarily for defense of course

Kupchak: Nick Young has more to pove this year - he and Lou WIlliams are wild cards offensively

Kupchak: Lou will fit in with Byron and team concept - last year, Nick did not and he'll have to try and get there this year

Kupchak: Not about personality, about doing what the coach wants - re: Young - he knows it and he'll have a good camp

Kupchak: Different than his earlier point, Scott may also go with a young player in end game situation as a learning moment

Kupchak did say he does not see Jabari Brown as a 3 in this league

Kupchaik called Williams and Frazier combos - he included Jabari in that - said Anthony Brown a 2/3

Kupchak wouldn't commit to saying Kobe is the team's starting 3 - but he said he will play some 3 this year

For as long as Kupchak has been here - hasn't seen this much activity, energy, participating in players leading up to season last 4-6 weeks

That's all folks and thanks Eric

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 1:36 pm Post subject:

Few other things I picked up from Mitch:

Lakers will have 'significant' cap space next season

Randle and World Peace basically beat the snot out of each other every practice but neither will admit to being sore.

World Peace can still ball in the half court. Full season and minutes may be a different story.

World Peace would be great in the locker room.

Spoke with folks at both schools Upshaw got dumped from, know what the issues were and think Lakers can help but it's up to Upshaw in the end.

lakersfreak · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 1:38 pm Post subject:

Sources: Lakers signing Metta World Peace
by Adrian Wojnarowski - sports.yahoo.com

Free-agent forward Metta World Peace has reached agreement on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

World Peace will sign his contract Thursday, and take a physical to formalize the agreement on Friday, league sources said.

World Peace is expected to make the roster and play a role as a small forward off the bench, and a veteran extension of coach Byron Scott in the young Lakers locker room.

He will join the Lakers in Hawaii on Monday for the start of training camp.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--lakers-signing-metta-world-peace-212401686.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

lakersfreak · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:50 am Post subject:

Robert Upshaw A Diamond In The Rough Or Just A Lost Cause?
by Aaron Mah - hoopshabit.com

The Los Angeles Lakers officially signed undrafted rookie center, Robert Upshaw, to a multiyear contract on Monday.

Upshaw, a 21-year-old shot-blocking demon from Fresno, Calif., is more known for his juvenile transgressions off the court than his eye-popping production on the court.

More explicitly, while the 7-foot behemoth is extremely talented, he was cut from two collegiate programs — specifically, Washington and Fresno State — over the past three years.

However, the Lakers brass gave Upshaw a second chance this offseason, after he was surprisingly undrafted in June, by reserving him a spot on the team’s Summer League squad. Although the California native failed to earn much playing time, seeing just 11.4 minutes per game in five contests, he showed just enough flashes for L.A. brass to him another opportunity.

The thing you notice immediately when watching Upshaw is undoubtedly his gargantuan physical stature and neverending length. Standing 7 feet in shoes, the former Huskie is blessed with a jaw-dropping 7’5.5″ wingspan and an intimidating 9’5″ standing reach.

Sure enough, Upshaw was an unadulterated elite rim protector at the college level, accumulating an insane 7 blocks per 40 minutes during his 19-game stint at Washington, which ranked No. 1 in the nation by a wide margin. He combines his otherworldly physical tools along with an unforeseen brand of quickness for a man his size.

http://hoopshabit.com/2015/09/24/los-angeles-lakers-robert-upshaw-unearthing-a-diamond-in-the-rough-or-just-a-lost-cause/

lakersfreak · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:52 am Post subject:

Gail Goodrich: A Native Legend
by Hannah Kulik - lakeshowlife.com

Many NBA superstars played for the Los Angeles Lakers at one time, and today their retired jerseys hang from the rafters of the Staples Center.

But there is one other retired jersey, No. 25, which belonged to the least recognizable member of this esteemed Lakers fraternity.

Gail Goodrich is not well-known to today’s young fans. However, when considering the totality of his prep, college and professional careers, all of which occurred in Los Angeles, he might be the greatest basketball player in the history of Los Angeles hoops.

http://lakeshowlife.com/2015/09/24/gail-goodrich-a-native-legend/

lakersfreak · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 1:00 am Post subject:

Jordan Clarkson: 'I've Got a Chip on My Shoulder' Heading into Next Season
by Josh Martin - bleacherreport.com

In some respects, Jordan Clarkson has already arrived.

The 23-year-old University of Missouri product earned first-team All-Rookie honors last season while bringing hope to forlorn fans of the Los Angeles Lakers. He's spent the summer touring around Asia, including a week-and-a-half in the Philippines (his mother is half Filipino) and working out with longtime trainer Drew Hanlen, whose growing list of clientele is littered with the NBA's elite.

But in so many other ways, Clarkson is still climbing uphill.

The Lakers, fresh off of their worst campaign in franchise history, spent the offseason loading up on competition for Clarkson's spot. There's D'Angelo Russell, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft and soon-to-be-christened savior of the team's future. There's Lou Williams, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. There's Marcelo Huertas, the Brazilian maestro who left behind a lucrative career in Europe to take his shot at the NBA.

And, of course, there's Kobe Bryant, who got the green light to play again after three straight season-ending injuries ahead of what could be his swan song.

Not to mention Jabari Brown, Clarkson's college teammate who came on strong for the Lakers down the stretch in 2014-15.

The Lakers are counting on Clarkson, the No. 46 pick in 2014, to be a prominent part of their post-Kobe success, but that won't come easily. He shared a backcourt with Russell at the Las Vegas Summer League to uneven effect; the team lost four of its five games, and neither Clarkson nor Russell performed at a consistently high level.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2567151-jordan-clarkson-ive-got-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-heading-into-next-season

Chronicle

lakersfreak

lakersfreak · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:13 am Post subject:

A year later, Mitch Kupchak is more guarded about Lakers' expectations
by Mike Breshnahan - latimes.com

The Lakers are a few days from flying to Honolulu, an apropos time to leave behind what happened on the mainland last season.

If ashes from a pitiful 21-victory effort could be scattered over the Pacific at 35,000 feet, it would surely happen at about 5 p.m. Monday.

A year ago, almost to the day, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the expectations were to "win a championship," a remark that drew plenty of dissection, if not sarcasm, as the season unraveled unlike any other in a proud 67-year history.

He was more guarded Thursday at the team's El Segundo training facility, cognizant that the Lakers are a mishmash of old, young and somewhere in between, trying to segue seamlessly from the Kobe Bryant era to whatever awaits in 2016-17.

"There's always going to be pressure to win a championship and every year that's going to be our goal," Kupchak said. "But we're realistic in where we are and we do feel we have an interesting mix."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-kupchak-20150925-story.html

lakersfreak · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:17 am Post subject:

Mitch: Lakers can build around Russell, Clarkson, Hibbert, Randle
by Eric Pincus - latimes.com

The Lakers might already have four of their five starters for the future, albeit in a trio of first- or second-year players and a 28-year-old center in a contract year.

"Clearly that's D'Angelo [Russell], Julius [Randle] and Jordan [Clarkson]. I'd like to see Roy Hibbert have an All-Star year," said General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Thursday at the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo.

"Hibbert is young enough to be included," he said. "If Roy has a good to great year, and we can bring him back at 28 years old, I don't know why he can't be part of that core."

The Lakers acquired Hibbert, who will be an unrestricted free agent next July, in a trade with the Indiana Pacers.

The team also has high hopes that Russell, selected with the second-overall pick in June's NBA draft, will gradually emerge as an impact point guard.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-kupchak-build-russell-clarkson-hibbert-randle-20150924-story.html

lakersfreak · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 8:27 pm Post subject:

Tarik Black Q&A: 2015-16 Lakers Season, Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle
by Ryan Ward - lakersnation.com

The start of the 2015-16 NBA season is still more than a month away for the Los Angeles Lakers with a lot of questions needing to be answered over the course of training camp and preseason.

One player that is already locked in and focused on making his presence felt is second-year forward/center Tarik Black. The undrafted Kansas product spoke with Lakers Nation on a number of different topics as he nears the start of his second season with the Lakers.

Below is the transcription of the conversation with Black:

http://www.lakersnation.com/tarik-black-qa-2015-16-lakers-season-kobe-bryant-julius-randle/2015/09/25/

lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:31 am Post subject:

What Metta World Peace Brings Back To Lakers
by Suki Thind - lakersnation.com

Well, it’s official — Metta World Peace is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers again!

News broke out on Thursday afternoon that the NBA player formerly known as Ron Artest (and The Panda’s Friend) signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers after a two year hiatus.

This could just be a strategy on Mitch Kupchak’s part for training camp, but Metta still has a decent shot at making the roster for the regular season.

So what can Metta — who last played 29 dismal games for the New York Knicks in 2014 — bring to the Lakers at age 35?

A lot, actually.

http://www.lakersnation.com/what-metta-world-peace-brings-back-to-lakers/2015/09/25/

lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:35 am Post subject:

Robert Upshaw still has work to do to make the Lakers' roster
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

At a listed 7 feet tall, 258 pounds as of the 2015 NBA Draft combine, Robert Upshaw is a big man, but the potential he holds as an NBA prospect is even bigger. Upshaw's story is familiar by now: despite being dismissed from two college basketball programs under hazy circumstances, he was still considered by many to be at the bare minimum a lock to be taken in the first round of the draft. But then NBA doctors flagged a heart issue discovered during physicals, and while Upshaw was later cleared to return to workouts, this combination of factors was enough to cause him to fall out of the draft entirely.

In the aftermath of the draft, the Los Angeles Lakers swooped in and landed a commitment from Upshaw to play for their Summer League team in Las Vegas. Upshaw's time in Vegas was up and down. On one hand, Upshaw held his own with much more highly-touted rookies in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor at some points, leading Summer League head coach Mark Madsen to rave, "When you think about a true five-man, who can get in the middle of the paint, who can block a shot, who can rebound, who can really get out there and change the complexion and the flow, Robert Upshaw can do that."

But summer league was not all positives, as Upshaw's struggles with his conditioning led to him averaging seven minutes per game over the Lakers' final three Las Vegas contests after averaging 17.5 over the first two. Contrary to some reports at the time, Upshaw went unsigned after Summer League, continuing to work out with the Lakers until he and the team agreed to terms on a non-guaranteed, multi-year deal a few weeks ago.

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/9/25/9395933/la-lakers-robert-upshaw-contract-training-camp

lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:09 am Post subject:

Appreciating Pau Gasol, one year since he left the Lakers
by TheGreatMambino - silverscreenandroll.com

With averages of over 25 points and nearly 9 rebounds per game, Pau Gasol ripped through the EuroBasket Tournament, bringing an aging Spanish National Team to yet another medal finish. The 35-year-old, with longtime teammates Rudy Fernandez and Felipe Reyes, guided their squad to their third title in four tournaments, adding yet another crown jewel to the golden age of Spanish basketball.

His brother Marc Gasol, point guard Jose Calderon and sharpshooter Juan Carlos Navarro all missed the championship tourney, leaving the bulk of the scoring and playmaking responsibilities to the five-time All-Star big man. Despite the serious lack of star power on a Spanish team usually rife with it, Pau dragged both his inexperienced and aging teammates to glory with his usual combination of deft post moves, smooth mid-range jumpers and passing down low.

Who could ever forget Gasol, he of 15 NBA seasons and 10 postseasons, rolling through contact and throwing down a bone-shaking slam dunk in the semi-final against France? Is there a more indelible image than Pau's teammates rallying behind their fearless leader who selflessly competed once again in international competition despite another punishing NBA season? I certainly couldn't forget it.

Because I didn't watch one minute of this tournament. Not one. But none of that changes the wellspring of emotion it's made me feel for one of the greatest Lakers of all time.

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/9/25/9396581/appreciating-pau-one-year-later

lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:03 am Post subject:

Paul Pierce Takes Shot At Kobe Bryant For Not Accepting ‘Lesser Role’
by Corey Handsford - lakersnation.com

With Kobe Bryant entering his 20th season with the Los Angeles Lakers and coming off three consecutive season-ending injuries, many have questioned whether Kobe should still be the lead option on the team. Some believe that Kobe passing the torch to the young core of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle would be good for their development.

As a future Hall of Famer himself, Paul Pierce has willingly become a role player in recent years and he will be fulfilling that role on the Los Angeles Clippers this season. Pierce appeared on The Fred Roggin Show and as a longtime rival of Kobe and the Lakers, couldn’t help himself in taking a shot at Kobe, as transcribed by Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk:

"That will be tough on some guys in L.A. to take on that (reduced) role *cough* Kobe *cough* I mean, you know, we get older." —Paul Pierce

https://twitter.com/basketballtalk/status/647544849198002176

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ChefLinda · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks to lakersfreak!

And Paul Pierce can go (bleep) himself. When the Lakers want his opinion... oh, yeah, that would be when hell freezes over.

lakersfreak · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:26 pm Post subject: