The Official Los Angeles Lakers thread

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Release of Grant was a luxury for the Lakers
Journeyman still owed $14 million by club this season.

By Ross Siler, Staff writer
Article Launched:10/23/2006 10:22:11 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES - If the NBA had not given teams the opportunity back in August 2005 to shed the contract of a player for luxury tax purposes, Brian Grant more than likely would be a member of the Lakers today.

Instead, Grant is collecting the second-biggest paycheck on the team after Kobe Bryant even though he hasn't played for the Lakers since the 2004-05 season and isn't even in an NBA training camp this month.

To understand the $14 million hole in the Lakers' payroll, you have to go back to the Shaquille O'Neal trade. With O'Neal due to make more than $27 million, the Lakers had to take back a big contract to make the deal work under league salary cap rules.

The Lakers were able to get Lamar Odom and Caron Butler, two promising young players, from Miami but were left to take Grant and the $43 million he was owed over three years.

"It really came down to Brian," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "He was a big man and we had to take somebody. If this (luxury-tax) amnesty rule didn't exist, Brian would still be on our team."

Grant came to the Lakers having long battled tendinitis in his knees but also having missed just 16 games in his four seasons as a full-time starter with the Heat.
But Grant struggled with a neck injury during training camp, then spent 13 games on the injured list with tendinitis. He played in 69 games his only season with the Lakers but averaged a career-low 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Then the NBA allowed teams the one-time opportunity to release a player for luxury tax purposes as part of its new collective bargaining agreement. The Lakers would have to pay Grant's salary but could avoid the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax penalty on it.

In Grant's case, the Lakers stood to save nearly $30 million. The decision to waive Grant was "the prudent thing to do," as Kupchak put it.

The Lakers are not alone in paying big money to a player no longer on their roster. New York still owes the retired Allan Houston $20 million this season while Dallas will be paying Michael Finley, a luxury-tax casualty, $35 million over the next two seasons.

Kupchak said Grant's contract has no effect on the Lakers in terms of their salary-cap or luxury-tax flexibility. Even with Grant's deal expiring after this season, the Lakers will be still be above the salary cap with what they owe current players.

"It doesn't hinder our ability to do anything," Kupchak said.

The Lakers have about $54 million committed to players for next season, not including free agents such as Luke Walton, Chris Mihm and Smush Parker. They will be limited in the signings and trades they can do by already being over the salary cap.

However, the Lakers will have more room under the luxury-tax threshold, which was $65.42 million this season.

Grant, meanwhile, signed a two-year deal with Phoenix after he was waived by the Lakers and underwent knee surgery in December. He played in only 21 games and was traded to Boston on draft night with the rights to rookie guard Rajon Rondo.

The Celtics have kept the 34-year-old Grant on the roster but ruled out that he will ever play a game for them. They will look to trade him or could release him to make room on the roster before the start of the season.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Switching defense begins to take hold
Rambis is pleased the team is finally getting a firm grasp on the concepts of the defensive scheme.

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register

This training camp featuring only cameo appearances by Phil Jackson is winding down, and Jackson's stand-in is pleased with how well the lessons on a gambling, switching defense have been learned.

"Defensively, we're getting a lot of our concepts across," Lakers interim coach Kurt Rambis said. "Guys are covering for one another; they're communicating out there."

Offensively? The team's 47.4 percent field-goal shooting amidst a slew of injuries isn't too shabby, but it hasn't come entirely out of right angles in the triangle offense.

Good thing Kobe Bryant was wearing a full suit Sunday night so he looked the part of assistant coach. Bryant approached a teammate at almost every timeout to discuss some finer point of the triangle, bouncing from Maurice Evans to Andrew Bynum to Jordan Farmar to Sasha Vujacic.

The Lakers' offense will be focused on Bryant again once he deems his right knee strong enough to play, probably the exhibition finale Thursday in Anaheim. This season, Bryant again will be widely presumed to be playing guard when he is actually operating at the forward position.

He switched last season to move closer to the basket on the wing instead of back at guard, where he played when Shaquille O'Neal was on the team.

"That's the position he would prefer to play," Rambis said of Bryant.

Rambis said that beyond the obvious increase in scoring chances closer to the basket, the Lakers want to avoid placing on Bryant additional burdens of handling the ball and organizing the offense.

"We've got people who can bring the ball up the floor," Rambis said.

"We can always swing Lamar (Odom) back to a guard position. There are a lot of things we can do."

The Lakers started and ended their exhibition victory over Phoenix on Sunday with Smush Parker and Vujacic at guard, Odom and Luke Walton at forward and Bynum at center - four players who were on the team last season and should know the offense. The execution down the stretch wasn't sharp, but Walton and Vujacic each hit a big shot to make a good defensive effort pay off.

The triangle is meant to have interchangeable positions depending on what the defense makes available.

But as much as Odom has worked at the wing spot in the exhibition season and as much as the coaches want him to attack the basket more, his preference is to play guard.

"I love it from the guard position," Odom said. Then he added: "I'm going to have to play all positions for this team."

NOTES

For all the Farmar hullabaloo, Vujacic has turned up his offense in his four exhibition games, shooting 55.2 percent from the field and ranking second to Odom in team scoring at 10.8 points per game.

The cover of the Lakers' media guide features Bryant's new No.24 jersey. Last season's cover was a photo of Bryant and Jackson.

The Lakers face the Phoenix Suns in the Oct.31 opener and will use a plan similar to the last playoff series, based on Rambis' comments after the come-from-behind victory Sunday night: "Our guys got the feel of attacking them and getting the ball inside."

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Lakers: The Kids Are Alright

By Eric Pincus
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Oct 23, 2006, 13:05 
   
The Los Angeles Lakers may not be the favorite to win the NBA Championship this season, but after seven pre-season games it's evident that the organization has a bright future.

Though LA's 94-91 victory Sunday night over the Phoenix Suns may not hold any regular season significance, it was a very promising win nonetheless.  A young Laker crew took it to the solid eight-man core of the Suns (who admittedly limited the minutes of Shawn Marion and Steve Nash) despite the absence of Kobe Bryant, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, Vladimir Radmanovic, Shammond Williams, Von Wafer, Aaron McKie and Coach Phil Jackson.  Injuries have been the story throughout the pre-season, yet the Lakers have managed to win four.

Luke Walton continued his impressive play with 19 points including a timely three-point shot with just 41 seconds left in the game.  Andrew Bynum gave the Lakers another glimpse of his true potential, scoring 16 points on 8-9 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds in his 25 minutes.  Lamar Odom also chipped in with 18 points, nine boards and three steals.

It may have been a sloppy game (LA had 30 turnovers), but the Laker organization assuredly left the San Diego exhibition with a sense that the best is yet to come.

Standing out are the young core of Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar, Bynum and Walton.  Turiaf is easily the team's best shot blocker at 1.6 bpg in just 22.6 mpg.  He has substantial promise as a defender while hitting an efficient 55.6% of his shots from the field through seven games.  Though still a bit raw, Turiaf should be expected to get productive minutes this season.

Farmar may have struggled a bit against the Suns, but he may already be the best Laker point guard since Nick Van Exel.  He's yet to put the entire package together (an assist to turnover ration of just 1.45), but his on the court leadership is apparent every time he checks into the game.  He needs to grow both offensively and defensively, but he is already leading the team with 1.6 steals per game.

Bynum has been inconsistent throughout the pre-season, but against the Suns he was a legitimate inside presence.  The Lakers have a lot invested in Bynum (having passed up on numerous trade offers for the young big).  Considering he's still a teenager, both the fans and the Lakers will need to be patient as he matures. With both Brown and Mihm likely to begin the season on the inactive list, Bynum will have to accelerate that development on the fly.  In the meantime, he is shooting an impressive 69.7% from the field through seven pre-season contests.

Walton has been one of the team's best players.  He may be a veteran on this squad, but at just 26 years old he is still very much a part of the team's future.  Over the summer he dramatically improved outside shot (54.4% from the field) while dropping some weight in order to keep up with the speed of the game.  Alongside with the playmaking of Odom, Bryant and in time Farmar, Walton helps round out what may be a very talented passing team.  Through seven games he's dished a team high 4.1 apg (tied with Odom) to just 2.0 topg . . . a team best ratio of 2.1 a/to.

Other players have contributed throughout the pre-season including Smush Parker (hitting 48.9% from the field and 47.6% from three-point range).  Brian Cook can certainly still shoot (56.8% from the field).

Mo Evans has yet to grasp the passing aspect of the triangle offense (just 0.7 apg), but he can be an explosive scorer.  Key for Evans will be consistency.

Considering the Lakers' home-heavy schedule in November, the team is going to need a steady contribution from everyone on the roster, especially with the number of injuries.  With Kobe Bryant still trying to recover from off-season knee surgery (he reportedly is looking to suit up for the team's pre-season finale). 

If the Lakers cannot get off to a fast start, the entire season could quickly be put in jeopardy.

Even if the upcoming season isn't everything the fans hopes it to be, the Laker youth movement already makes it clear throughout the brief pre-season that the franchise does indeed have a bright future.
 

[wcsoldier]

To be honest, all these injuries scared me, I DO hope , we won't have a shitty beginning of season 

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

To be honest, all these injuries scared me, I DO hope , we won't have a shitty beginning of season 

Dude, at least be thankful that everything is getting nursed now... so when every other team is banged up in April, Lakers will be fully recovered...

[wcsoldier]

^^^^ Yep I know we have to be at our best level around March- April, I just meant I hope we won't have a shitty beginning that prevent us to battle for the top seeds... coz with the full roster in good shape, I can see a REAL improvement.... that means a 4th seed

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Well, lucky for us, we have a very light schedule to start the season...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Opening no-show?
Slow-recovering Kobe could miss start of the season

Tuesday October 24, 2006 11:27AM

Lakers star Kobe Bryant, still recovering from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, might not be available for his team's season opener Haloween night against the Suns.

"I couldn't tell you if he's going to play Thursday [in the Lakers' final exhibition against Denver] or [against Phoenix] Oct. 31," Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told SI.com on Monday. "I think in the back of our minds we've been pointing to opening night, but we don't know for sure."

Bryant has yet to play in any of the Lakers' first seven preseason games -- or even go through a full practice. The 28-year-old guard was originally supposed to be out 8-12 weeks after undergoing the cleanup procedure back in mid-July. It has now been nearly 15 weeks, and Bryant's return date is still a mystery.

The Lakers have been saying all preseason that Bryant would play in the opener, but the star guard's knee isn't cooperating. He told reporters a few days ago that the knee was feeling all right, but that he still needed to get over that last "hurdle."

Bryant is known as a fast healer, making this bumpy recovery somewhat puzzling. During his 10-year NBA career, he has played through all sorts of injuries. Shoulder. Ankles. Knees. You can pretty much name the malady, and he's battled through it to stay on the floor.

Is it possible that Kobe's right knee, the same one that was operated on two years ago, is worse than feared?

Kupchak declined to address that question Monday, saying it was best answered by Bryant or the team trainers. But it's safe to say the Lakers are concerned. Bryant has played more games than any other player in NBA history in the first 10 years of a career, and he still has five years and $105 million left on his contract.

"We trust his judgment that when he comes back, he'll come back with the understanding that he'll play a full season, not 10 games or something like that," Kupchak said. "He knows his body."

As for Bryant having waited until mid-July to undergo his procedure, Kupchak said he had no issues with the decision. The Lakers' season didn't end until May, and Bryant has said he didn't realize he needed the cleanup procedure until after he had started working out again a few weeks later. It would seem to be an entirely different case than that of Shaquille O'Neal, who drew criticism a few years ago after holding off on having toe surgery.

"I think he had it as soon as he could have had it," Kupchak said of Bryant. "Our season ended in May. There is a period when you rest your body and let things calm down and see what happens. We're 100 percent comfortable with his thought processes as far as diagnosing his injury."

Bryant's injury woes have been the biggest -- but far from only -- injury concern for the Lakers so far in the preseason. Vladimir Radmanovic (wrist), Chris Mihm (ankle), Kwame Brown (shoulder), Brian Cook (ankle), Shammond Williams (abdominal strain) and Aaron McKie (back) have missed either all or a significant part of training camp.

Radmanovic and Mihm have yet to play in a preseason game and probably will miss the start of the season, while Brown will be out 3-4 weeks. Even head coach Phil Jackson has been sidelined by hip surgery. It's possible that Andrew Bynum, who turns 19 on Friday, will be the team's starting center on opening night.

"You play the hand you're dealt," Kupchak says. "Every team deals with injuries. We're no different than anybody else. ... The silver lining is that a lot of our young players are getting valuable experience. It might help us in March and April."

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Raising cane: Jackson getting closer to bench return

LOS ANGELES (AP) -Leaning on a metal cane, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson declared himself "pretty much pain free'' Tuesday in his first public comments since undergoing right hip replacement surgery three weeks ago.

"I'm feeling pretty good,'' he said after watching the Lakers scrimmage for season-ticket holders at Staples Center. "It's good enough so I can go to practices and feel comfortable on the court.''

He plans to return to the bench for the season opener next Tuesday against Phoenix.

And he'd like to do so without the cane.

"I hope to throw it away next week,'' he said.

Also on the mend is Kobe Bryant, who participated in his first full-court scrimmage Tuesday since offseason right knee surgery.

"It was good enough to get through practice,'' he said. "We had a lot of breaks in between plays.''

Bryant said he should be ready for the season opener, but Jackson wasn't so sure.

"He's stalled out a little bit on his rehab and on coming back,'' the coach said. "I really want him to be healthy when he comes back because a lot is asked of him and he plays heavy minutes. If things don't go right, it could be a setback.''

Jackson confirmed that centers Kwame Brown (right shoulder) and Chris Mihm (offseason right ankle surgery) will miss at least the first two weeks of the season, making Andrew Bynum, who turns 18 Friday, the starter.

Toward the end of practice, Jackson sat on the bench, his hands leaning on the cane propped in front of him. Bryant was next to him, a huge bag of ice wrapped around his knee.

"He had his armor on today, which is the Lakers' sweat suit,'' Bryant said of Jackson. "He puts that on, it means it's time for business.''

During Jackson's recovery, assistant Kurt Rambis has been running training camp and coaching preseason games.

Jackson won't make the trip to Anaheim on Thursday night when the Lakers play Denver in their final preseason tuneup.

"That's still something I'm not quite comfortable doing,'' said Jackson, who hasn't recovered enough to drive.

For the first time in three years, though, Jackson made it through a couple hours of practice without pain. The hip replacement has also made it easier for him to sleep comfortably at night.

"What's important now is I'm pretty much pain free,'' he said.

Jackson's rehabilitation involves doing exercises a couple of times a day and walking, which he said should be easy to continue during down time on road trips.

Jackson has attended practice about seven times in the last two weeks, but he's been more of a presence behind the scenes - watching film and discussing practice plans and lineups with Rambis.

"I don't think my voice is an entity yet in their ear and that's one of the things as a coach, they've got to respond to my voice,'' Jackson said.

Bryant certainly did.

"He's the same old Phil, jumping up and making sure he yells out instructions and subtleties of the game during practice,'' he said. "We definitely missed his voice.''

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Jackson ready; Kobe uncertain + Bynum to start opening night

By Ross Siler Staff Writer
Article Launched:10/24/2006 11:32:46 PM PDT

EL SEGUNDO - They sat together on the bench at the end of Tuesday's open practice for season-ticket holders at Staples Center. Phil Jackson kept one hand on an aluminum cane while Kobe Bryant propped up his right leg with two ice bags wrapped around his knee.

Such was the picture of the Lakers' two leaders with a week to go until opening night.

Jackson was back in public view for the first time since undergoing hip-replacement surgery Oct. 3. He said the plan is still to coach in the season opener against Phoenix, although he won't make the trip to Anaheim for Thursday's exhibition game.

In other news, Jackson still can't drive, but he is sleeping better.

He questioned whether his voice has become an "entity" in his players' ears and said he has been bothered by the Lakers' turnover propensity and free-throw shooting woes in the preseason.

Jackson without a doubt is concerned about the condition of Bryant's knee.

Even if Jackson is back for the opener, Bryant might not be.

"I don't want to push this," Jackson said. "I think it's very important for him. He's stalled out a little bit on his rehab and on coming back. I really want him to be healthy when he comes back because a lot is asked of him and he plays heavy minutes.
"If things don't go right, it could be a setback. I don't want to have that happen."

Bryant, the league's leading scorer last season, took part in practice Tuesday, which included a light scrimmage at the end. He was heading home afterward to ice the knee again and do a third round of therapy for the day.

"It wasn't hurting in any areas as far as making me limp," Bryant said. "Certain areas were weaker than others. But it felt OK."

Bryant said he probably would not play Thursday but still hoped to be ready for the opener.

Jackson has been a regular at the Lakers' practice facility the past two weeks, meeting with his assistant coaches, watching game film and plotting lineups to use in preseason games.

With seven injured players, including centers Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm, Jackson remains uncertain whether the Lakers will be able to get off to a fast start with a favorable schedule in the opening weeks of the season.

The Lakers will play 15 of their first 20 games at home, with one of their five road games against the Clippers at Staples Center.

The injuries have taken a toll, but Jackson has been encouraged by his youngest players. He singled out Sasha Vujacic, Maurice Evans and rookie Jordan Farmar. In particular, Farmar has "given us some inspiration when he's come in," Jackson said.

Jackson said Andrew Bynum likely would be his starting center on opening night.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Jackson back at practice
He doesn't expect his surgically repaired hip to keep him from coaching the Lakers' opener.

By JANIS CARR
The Orange County Register
Wednesday, October 25, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Phil Jackson, dressed in a black Lakers' sweatsuit, took his customary courtside seat at Staples Center and directed Tuesday's practice.

For the most part, he looked and sounded like the old Jackson. He yelled out instructions, then strolled across the court to dismiss the players. Afterward, he crookedly walked into the locker room. The aluminum cane was the only thing out of place.

Jackson, who has been out of the public eye since having right hip surgery, directed the open practice in front of an estimated 250 season-ticket holders. He also spoke to the media for the first time since his Oct.3 surgery.

Jackson, 61, had hoped offseason rest and rehabilitation would fix his troublesome hip. But after talking to several friends who had a similar surgery, he decided to undergo hip replacement.

"I had enough testimonials to make me feel comfortable to go through with this," Jackson said. "This (hip pain) is what stopped me from taking this job instantaneously a year or two ago when I was offered the job,. I had to assess whether I could make it through the season. As we got further in the year, I thought it might be difficult getting through the whole season."

Jackson said he does a lot of walking - with the cane - and a series of daily exercises designed to strengthen the hip muscles. He still is unable to drive a car or sit for long periods of time, he said.

Jackson said he is virtually pain free now and plans to be on the bench for the Lakers' opener vs. Phoenix on Tuesday. He will skip the final exhibition game against Denver on Thursday at Honda Center.

Besides the team's turnovers and poor free-throw shooting, Jackson said he is most concerned with getting the players used to hearing him - and not Kurt Rambis - barking instructions. Rambis has been handling the coaching duties in Jackson's absence.

"My voice is not an entity in their ears yet," Jackson said.

Kobe Bryant said it was good to have Jackson back on the sideline.

"He looked good to me," Bryant said. "He had his armor on today, which is his Lakers' sweatsuit. He's ready for business."

BRYANT CLOSE

Bryant took part in his first full scrimmage Tuesday since arthroscopic surgery on his right knee July 15.

Bryant said the knee felt strong but didn't think he was ready to play in a game yet. He said he hopes to be on the floor for the Lakers' opener.

"It (knee) was good enough to get through practice because we had a lot of breaks between plays, so I was able to let the knee settle back in and not play continuously," he said. "But I should be ready. We'll see how it feels tomorrow and go from there."

Bryant said he is hesitant to return too soon. He doesn't want a setback.

"What can happen is that it can get sore and then you're treating the knee every day," Bryant said. "Then you have a pattern of soreness and then it doesn't get better.

"We don't want that."

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL@Baby G...Even Laker haters know we'll improve this year:



NBA Betting: 2006-07 Los Angeles Lakers Predictions

by Eric Williams

Kobe runs the Lakers
As a lifelong Boston Celtics fan, hating the Lakers comes naturally. However, as the rivalry between the two teams has ceased to even exist these days, I have come to, at least, appreciate the talents of some of their former greats and currently, both, head coach, Phil Jackson and shooting guard, Kobe Bryant.

After the Lakers spirited conclusion to last season, with an unexpected and hard fought playoff appearance, the future would appear to be very bright for Bryant and his mostly young teammates.

Here is a glimpse of what lies ahead for Los Angeles in 2006-07.

Point Guard

Simply put, this is the first problem for the Lakers. I like Smush Parker, but unless he's a changed player (I doubt it), he's not the answer. Neither is backup Shammond Williams. Personally, I think the Lakers had better find out in a hurry if either Sasha Vujacic or Jordan Farmar is capable of being a starting point guard in the NBA.

Shooting Guard

Not only do the Lakers have the best shooting guard in the game, but they made an excellent acquisition when they traded for veteran Maurice Evans, who should see significant playing time this season either behind Bryant, or most likely, alongside of him at either the 2 or 3. Evans is also an excellent defensive player who should prosper with more minutes and Jackson's direction.

Small Forward

This was a problem for the Lakers last season. However, by acquiring veteran, Vladimir Radmanovic, the Lakers should see instant improvement. Radmanovic's long distance shooting should be a valuable compliment to Bryant's ability to drive to the basket. Luke Walton is a damn good backup and a good outside shooter, not to mention, excellent passer.

Power Forward

This is going to be a problem for the Lakers. That's right, you heard it here. If the Lakers think that Lamar Odom is the answer at the 4, they had better think again. Odom is one of the most inconsistent players of all-time and one who has never lived up to his immense physical gifts. I'm sorry, but I just can't see Odom stopping Duncan or Garnett down low. On the other hand, he could cause matchup problems on offense - when he feels like playing that is. Brian Cook and Rony Turiaf are good players, but nothing to write home to Mom about - although Turiaf does still have plenty of room for growth.

Center

The duo of Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown is fairly respectable when their numbers are combined. Mihm is a less gifted player who hustles more than his more athletic, but laid-back counterpart. I guess the Lakers could continue to get by like this for a while; however, it sure would be nice to see one or the other take control of this position. Oh well, maybe second-year player, Andrew Bynum will become a player one day.

Prognosis:

I think the Lakers should win at least another four or possibly five games, because of the acquisitions of Evans and Radmanovic. Even with the Lakers issues at point guard and power forward, I think this team is going to improve and once again, be a tough out come playoff time.

[Antonio_]

by Eric Williams

Who's this Eric Williams? The former Celtic player?



This one? Or just a journalist with the same name?

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^LOL, it's someone else...

[GangstaBoogy]

LOL@Baby G...Even Laker haters know we'll improve this year:

lol sorry nicholas, i didn't know you took my opinions to heart.