Lakers

Celtics Go Sf, Knicks Go Pg, Lakers Pick Lonzo Ball

... Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina. 26. Brooklyn Nets: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina. 27. Houston Rockets: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State. 28. Portland Trail Blazers: Terrance Ferguson, SG, USA. 29. San Antonio Spurs: Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia. 30. Utah Jazz: Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State. 31. Atlanta Hawks: Jaron Blossomgame, SF, Clemson. 32. Phoenix Suns: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, SG, Kansas. 33. Los Angeles Lakers: Cam Oliver, PF, Nevada. 34. Orlando Magic: Allonzo Trier, SG, Arizona. 35. Philadelphia 76 ers: Josh Hart, SG, Villanova. 36. Boston Celtics: Nigel Williams-Goss, PG, Gonzaga. 37. Dallas Mavericks: Monte Morris, PG, Iowa State. 38. Utah Jazz: Isaiah Hicks, PF, North Carolina. 39. Minnesota Timberwolves: Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue. 40. Houston Rockets: Chris Boucher, PF, Oregon. 41. Sacramento Kings: Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland. 42. Charlotte Hornets: Alpha Kaba, PF, France. 43. Miami Heat: Peter Jok, SG, Iowa. 44. ...

Grading The Lakers' Moves In The Jim Buss Era Spoiler Alert

... a little over 10 points. Grade: C. July 11: Signed Nick Young. In four seasons with the team, Young has received almost $17 million and has averaged 13.3 points. Grade: C. July 12: Signed Chris Kaman. He got $3.2 million, they got 39 games from him. Grade: D. Feb. 19: Traded Steve Blake to the Golden State Warriors for Kent Bazemore and Mar Shon Brooks. Bazemore and Brooks finished out the season with the team and either went elsewhere (Bazemore) or is out of the league (Brooks). Grade: D. June 26: Drafted Julius Randle in the 1 st round (7 th pick) of the 2014 NBA draft. Missed almost all his first season with an injury. Has played well at times since, but don’t you expect more from the No. 7 overall pick? Grade: C. June 27: Sent cash to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Clarkson. Has been a solid contributor with the ...

Five Takeaways From The Lakers' 137-101 Loss To Phoenix

... general manager Mitch Kupchak and recently hired advisor Magic Johnson. As the. NBA trade deadline approaches on February 23, the Lakers have their ears open. “We are active, yes,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “We’re active every year. … Quite frankly compared to the last three or four years, we have a lot of talent on this roster that I think a lot of people. As the NBA trade deadline approaches on February 23, the Lakers have their ears open. “We are active, yes,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “We’re active every year. … Quite frankly compared to the last three or four years, we have a lot of talent on this roster that I think a lot of people. (Tania Ganguli and Mike Di Giovanna). “It will be nice to have a day to reflect on everything, where we’re at,” Walton said. “I’ll sit down with all the coaches, talk to them, discuss where we want to go moving forward, what’s best for the guys developmental-wise. When time allows, I’m sure I’ll sit down with Mitch and Jim and Magic , see what they think is going on and take it from ...

Five Takeaways From The Lakers' 97-96 Loss To Sacramento

... night, fueling a fourth-quarter run in which the Lakers erased a 13-point deficit in the final 10 minutes. The Lakers trailed, 79-66, with 9 minutes, 46 seconds left, but Williams scored 14 of the team’s next 25 points, including a 26-footer from the top of the key with 1:45 left that tied the score, 91-91. Williams actually stepped on Darren Collison ’s foot before the shot, nearly stumbling while the defender fell down, but Williams regained his balance, elevated and made the clutch shot. “I just hoop, and I let the powers that be deal with that,” Williams, who is averaging a team-high 18.4 points, said of the trade rumors. “I’m a little old-school in my approach. I play for the team that I have the jersey on for. I don’t really deal with hypotheticals, so if something happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t, and I’m gonna compete for the Lakers.”. 4. Just because you start the game for the Lakers, that doesn’t mean you’ll finish it. Neither Randle, a forward, nor point guard D’Angelo Russell played in the fourth quarter, while Williams, ...

Rick Fox Talks Magic Johnson's New Lakers Role, Wants Kobe Bryant To Join Team

... to succeed but also the drive and passion around the Laker organization to want to see this rise again to prominence.[it was] wise on Jeanie Buss' part to convince him and be able to get him to make that shift. It's a blessing for the Lakers.". Johnson was named the Lakers' new president of basketball operations Tuesday. In corresponding moves, the Lakers parted ways with longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player operations Jim Buss. The son of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss, Jim will maintain his ownership stake but will no longer have a say in player personnel. Johnson will have final say over player personnel and will hire a day-to-day general manager. "First call I make if I'm in charge? Kobe Bryant," Johnson said on ESPN's First Take  last week. "Because Kobe understands winning. He understands, also, these players. I would call: 'What ...

What's Happened, What Lies Ahead

... a whistle every time he shoots. He’s averaging career-highs in points and shooting percentage (44.4), and the team raves about his leadership qualities. BIGGEST SURPRISE: Many in the organization believe rookie center Ivica Zubac has the most upside of any member of their young core. While the 19-year-old rookie out of Croatia still has raw skills, the Lakers are excited about his potential as a defender, post player and jump shooter. It’s too early to say if Zubac could become another Marc Gasol, a raw undeveloped European center who eventually morphed into an NBA All-Star. But the Lakers believe Zubac has the tools to become something special. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: There are plenty of things $136 million can buy, including a poor early return on the free-agent signings of Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov. Walton already has pulled them from the starting lineup. Though some of that is Walton wanting to ...

Lakers Blown Out Again, This Time By Lowly Suns, 137-101

... only thing that is acceptable, really. “It’s an honor and a privilege to play in this league. We have a great fan base, a great organization. We’re gonna lose games, but when we give in like that and don’t play with a certain competitive level, that’s not right for anybody.”. The Lakers don’t play again until Feb. 24 at Oklahoma City, giving them a full eight days to stew over Wednesday’s blowout. This one, which went sour soon after the opening tip, won’t sit well. The Lakers made five of 19 shots (26.3%) and missed all five of their three-point attempts while falling behind 32-15 in the first quarter. They didn’t make their first field goal until Russell’s 17-foot jumper with 7 minutes 43 seconds left. The Lakers turned the ball over eight times in the period, leading to 10 Phoenix points. The Suns manhandled the Lakers inside, scoring three times on alley-oop dunks. ...

Lakers Reportedly Deal Lou Williams To Rockets For Brewer, 1st-rounder

... passes. That number is likely to go up when not surrounded by the dreadful Lakers offense, and Williams has high marks in isolation and spot-up. He basically fits with the Rockets’ offense to a T. The defense, of course, is a concern, but the Rockets’ defense isn’t as bad as you would think (14 th in the NBA and 11 th since Jan. 1), and they can always just rely on starters in the playoffs. This deal doesn’t shift the landscape in the Western Conference or help the Rockets match up differently with Golden State. But it addresses a weakness with a strength, and involves only surrendering a pick they don’t need. The Rockets have bolstered their reserves with young players the last few years with Montrezl Harrell , Sam Dekker and Clint Capela. They were not in need of another pick heading to Rio Grande Valley. It’s a good return on assets, given their situation. LOS ANGELES LAKERS. RECEIVE: Corey Brewer, unprotected ...

Could The Utah Jazz Really Bring Back Deron Williams

... Houston Rockets for Corey Brewer and a first-round draft pick. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo's The Vertical first reported the trade, which was later confirmed by league sources to The Tribune. Williams, 30, is one of the better bench scorers in the league. His $7 million contract over the next two years made him attractive on the market, especially given his talent and scoring ability. TOP JOBS. The Lakers were shaken up on Tuesday with the firing of longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak and team vice president Jim Buss, with team legend Magic Johnson taking over as team president. Multiple reports have agent Rob Pelinka, who represents Jazz guard Dante Exum among others, joining the Lakers front office as their next general manager. With one Williams off the market, Tuesday night's biggest development was the interest in another player with that last name — former Jazz star Deron Williams, now with the Dallas Mavericks. Tim Mc Mahon and Mark Stein of ESPN reported that the Jazz have reached out to Dallas about Deron Williams' availability, but that a deal was not imminent. With ...