New Lakers center Andre Drummond will make his debut for his new team on Wednesday vs. Milwaukee, he said today, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link). League sources told Buha that Drummond is expected to slide into the starting lineup, displacing incumbent starter Marc Gasol, and head coach Frank Vogel confirmed as much today (Twitter link).
Despite some leaguewide speculation that Drummond’s arrival could lead to a buyout of Gasol, the Spaniard is unlikely to be waived, Buha writes in the same story. Vogel also confirmed that today, telling reporters that the club hasn’t spoken to Gasol about a possible buyout (Twitter link). The Lakers’ coach praised the 36-year-old for handling Drummond’s arrival like a “true pro” (Twitter link).
While Vogel said this week that the Lakers anticipate using Drummond, Gasol, and Montrezl Harrell, there likely won’t be enough minutes to go around for everyone, especially when everyone is healthy, and Gasol looks like the probable odd man out, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- After sitting out for nearly a month-and-a-half, Drummond told reporters on Monday that he can’t wait to return to action, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “You can imagine the hunger and excitement I have to play and step on the court,” Drummond said. “I had an incredible month of work where I’m ready to play today.” The big man added that his goal is to “cause havoc in the paint” and that he believes he can further solidify a unit that already ranks first in the NBA in defensive efficiency.
- Having signed Drummond to fill their 14th roster spot, the Lakers want to add a three-and-D wing to fill their final opening, according to Jovan Buha and Jared Weiss of The Athletic. It’s not clear which players the Lakers may be targeting, as there aren’t many current free agents who can reliably produce on both ends of the court.
- Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said on Stephen A.’s World on ESPN+ on Monday that she welcomes the Nets’ efforts to load up their roster and knock off the defending-champion Lakers. “It brings out the best in us,” Buss said, per Royce Young of ESPN. “When teams identify us as the team to beat and they gear up to go at us head-to-head, that makes us work harder. So, bring it on.”
- Earlier today, we relayed a report on Dennis Schröder‘s extension talks with the Lakers and broke down the point guard’s contract situation.
Send the ring now to Laker nation so when Staples gets a full crowd next year we can have the first double banner unfurling in league history.
Oh, how exciting that would be.
Yes its going to be amazing. The one thing you don’t want if you got LeBron and AD to worry about is LeBron and Ad getting extra possessions.
I don’t think I am going to be able to sleep until that happens.
Yeah bro, lot can happen as we have seen with injuries. If LeBron and Ad are healthy with this new roster I will be confident
As a non-Jewish Lakers fan, I would still be all verklempt. It would be like butter.
I’m all for that Lakers 2020 Champions
—————- Clippers 2021 Champions
Nah LeBron needs to 3 peat so he can destroy the pernicious myth that Jordan is GOAT
Lebron will always realistically be 2nd at best, but that is pretty impressive in it’s own right. Several candidates at the top and Lebron is above most, with Jordan at the peak.
Jordan dominated a weak era, Jordan lost to Larry and Isisah every year in the playoffs and he never beat a single great team at or even near their prime,, unless you consider the Lakers 3 years after the last title minus Kareem and Riley and in Magic’s last year a great team, I dont. Jordan dominated an expansion weakened league after 3 great dynasties collapsed due to injury and age. Jordan was heavy favorite to win all 6 of the finals he played. Lebron had to battle two great dynasties in their peak, and he outlasted both of them. Id rate both Magic and LeBron better than the weak era Goat Jordan
Who peed in your Cheerios?
I just don’t buy the cult of Jordan, no doubt a deserving GOAT candidate but 90s basketball sucked compared to today, the game has also become international when the weak era Goat was racking up titles the south Americans and Euros were just starting to produce players. Arguably the three best players in the league this year based on numbers ( Embiid, Jokic, and Doncic) were all born outside the US.
Why all the time people be urinating on cereal? That’s my question. It’s a travistude, judge!
You are completely out of your mind.
I respect LBJ and he’s at least 1B or 2. MJ is the greatest. He fended off the Knicks/ Ewing, 76ers/Barkley, Hawks/Dominique, Pacers/Miller, Magic/Shaq/Hardaway, Heat/Rice/Hardaway out the East. Bird and Celtics were towards the end of their careers but still relevant.
out the west he shut down Utah/ Malone/Stockton, gic/Worthy, Suns/Barkley, KJ/Manning/Marjle, Sonics/Payton/Kemp//Schrempf.
MJ/Bulls went up against a lot of top HOF especially in the East.
If Jordan is Goat why did he fail to make the finals for 7 years when Magic, Larry, and later Isiah were bossing the league? Can the Goat have a losing record in the playoffs against both the Celtics with Bird and Pistons and be Goat? Please tell me other than Malone and Stockton who did Utah have? And if Utah was so great why did they lose year after year to Magic in his prime in the west?
Roster of Celtics, Pistons, and Showtime lakers clown the sorry teams Jordan beat in the finals. Shawn Kemp are you serious? Lol
Ps when Jordan left bulls Pippin had an mvp typeyear and lead Bulls to second round of playoffs, LeBron left the Cave and they became a lottery team, who was more valuable?
Your crazy man MJ by far is the GOAT. And by saying the 80,s and 90,s is soft era makes you not knowledgeable of basketball and not credible . Let me educate you some. In those era hand check defense was allowed and tough defense was allowed. Also centers could clog the paint. Jordan also stuck with his team and teammates in good and bad times. unlike Lebron having to join superstar teams to win championships. Jordan made Pippen a star. If Lebron played with Pippen he would of cried for management to trade him in his first years because he was not established star. Just like he did with Wiggins , Ingram , Lonzo. A great player and leader would have taken them under his wings and helped them reach their potential. Also if Lebron was in place of MJ bulls, he would of crumbled and quiet his team from facing Detroit piston and the Celtics just like he did in his first go around with Cleveland when he faced them lost cried and left to join WADE maimi team with another all star named Bosh. That is not what a GOAT would do. The GOAT would do what Jordan did and take the challenge and improved his game and teammates and conquered his obstacles . Once he reached the peak of his game and the nba he stayed their unlike Lebron. Your argument of Lebron team get worse after he leaves his team is laughable. We all know he bleeds the teams he plays with and signs the players that only fit his play and are his friends. And when he sees his teammates weaken a bit and can’t defeat another obstacle he bolts to another superstar team. I can go on and on and on how MJ is the GOAT.
All I can say is if I was forced to LeBron is bigger and longer and brings the ball up the court and is way better playmaker I take LeBron and Magic over Jordan. What are you going to say if LeBron wins a couple more championships and finishes all time points? Competition both Magic and LeBron faced is and was tougher.
Dude STFU with that BS
By Bs you mean facts? Compare the roster of the late 80s Pistons, Celtics, and Lakers and compare them to the teams Jordan beat in the finals. If LeBron played in the 90s instead of Jordan he might have ten rings
Jordan deserves credit, no doubt a worthy top 3 or 5 of all time. But if I was going to start a team ill take a 6’9 point guard who punked Moses malone in the finals as a rookie playing center and LeBron both over Jordan
You are completely out of your mind.
I respect LBJ and he’s at least 1B or 2. MJ is the greatest. He fended off the Knicks/ Ewing, 76ers/Barkley, Hawks/Dominique, Pacers/Miller, Magic/Shaq/Hardaway, Heat/Rice/Hardaway out the East. Bird and Celtics were towards the end of their careers but still relevant.
out the west he shut down Utah/ Malone/Stockton, gic/Worthy, Suns/Barkley, KJ/Manning/Marjle, Sonics/Payton/Kemp//Schrempf.
MJ/Bulls went up against a lot of top HOF especially in the East.
Pretty strong stuff that GeneralZod is smoking.
Mike is GOAT, you are wrong.
You can’t Destroy Jordan GOAT the man was 6 -0 in the finals Plus they two different players
Is rating his airness as number 3 all time destroying him?
Pretty sure all the Laker fans said the same thing, guaranteed title again, when LA signed Gasol. Now you’re saying it because they signed someone to be his replacement? So basically no matter what the Lakers do, just give them a ring – do I have that right?
Can you name one laker fan not in the insane asylum that thought 35 year old Gasol was a championship guarantee? You do know Andre Drummond is the best rebounder of this generation and right now as well? You just made up the strawman argument that we thought Gasol was the championship piece, no one thought him anything other than a role player before the season
It’s cool to be the best at something of this generation and right now as well.
That almost never happens.
The best rebounder of the generation? Wow. It’s amazing a player like that would bounce around and be on the buyout market. But thanks for the knowledge. Ps- learn “strawman.” That post really wasn’t it. Or don’t learn it. Shoot I’m always amused by fanboys who just want to be belligerent. Best rebounder of the generation. Wow.
Rebounded from team to team …..
Dre is the best rebounder, if you don’t agree with facts that is kind of your mental issues surfacin’ again, right?
You really need a toke lol. Lighten up. Seems you read my posts, then you should know I’m one of a few who supports Drummonds career.
And he literally has rebounded from team to team.
It was meant for pc01 not for you Al… sorry ’bout that!
I know you are one of the very few who appreciates Dre’s value!
As a Laker fan I was shocked they didn’t have a plan B behind Gasol opening night- Even a guy { like } Damian Jones for insurance at least – As bad as Gasols been I cant Imagine what would happen had he had injs…hes been pretty durable remarkably aside the Covid absence
They got a little cute with Cook and Dudley re-ups and I still think LeBron vetoed Dwight which has taken a toll
Perfect example of grass aint always greener ….they coulda easily had McGee and Dwight sans worthless Mathews and been jusssttttt fine
It’s a trend this year for teams to not have enough 5. There’s been warning enough and probably it went too far.
I bet the feeling is that perimeter players learn to play better defense when there’s NOT always a rim protector behind them to make up for their slack. Thus the team goes into the playoffs tougher.
Speaking of playoffs, Dwight & Javale did not handle the bubble environment well… Probably 5s as a whole felt out of place without their home support. Gasol did not either.
In today’s nba
Not being able to shoot from the three is dead sentence?
How can 27 years old healthy star be bought out?
What If Drummond shoot like Jokic?
Lakers were 23rd in NBA in 3 point shooting last year and I dont think they did too poorly, they mauled all the smaller teams they played. If the Nets win they will be the first team that was poor defensivly and on the glass to ever win a title in my 40 years of watching the Nba
Smart move by LA save Gasol for the playoffs. promise you Drummonds butt will be on the bench come playoff time!
For all the hate the Warriors got for acquiring ONE star player, Lakers and Nets better get that same hate… Frankenstein teams.
Getting harden sure but nets got two past their prime
Players in La and Blake so they are far from stars . But is it the lakers fault Andre wanted to come he gave 5 teams a shot to win him
Over and lakers won
I expect Drummond to get those DNPs once Davis and LeBron come back. Make sure Gasol is healthy until then, although Drummond is a significant downgrade from him, which could hurt them a bit. That being said, Gasol has been out for a while anyway, so they could use the body after getting rid of Damian Jones for no reason
Playoff Rondo is coming for Lakers ……
Anyone who considers themselves an NBA knowledgeable fan. Shouldn’t have to be told Bron in the East. Yearly had the easiest route to NBA finals. Probably than any player in history of NBA. Look it up yourself or I will come back here and remind you.
I’m a Bron guy lol. But I’m a bigger NBA fan…… K
Best stat Bron has could be going to 10 East Finals in 15 yrs. 8 straight. He went to 9 Finals and won 3 and lost 6. Keep up ……
MJ had real teams he beat to get to Finals. Pacers Or Knicks could of won a few if wasn’t for Bulls. Bron played either an old East used to be good team. Or a new young wanna be good East team. In his East Finals. What he did with Lakers Is unique. He deserves plenty credit for it. But it’s only 1. I’m not even an MJ guy. But he could of won 8 straight. Bulls had better competition in East than Bron ever had. It’s why Bulls never had problems with West teams. Bron is one of best ever. Don’t make up stats to try and make your point lol.
Al says listen to all that, whatever it is, or he will remind you. Threats.
There is only one poster talking Bron and talking down the East during MJ days. You need attention today. You can get my attention if you like.
I’m here to keep it REAL … you passionate about a point. You shouldn’t have to lie. Or be too lazy to look up facts. I’ll gladly do it for you. Now what is it you need lol……
Come and get it Clips
Id rather face Clips than Utah Phx Den or even a healthy Blazers team Rd 1
The MJ vs Bron debate is a healthy one. We don’t need to diss other teams or players. Or worse a whole generation of players. Cause you’re a FanBoy of either. Great players are considered great by accomplishment. And as fans we all have our favorites. And we are entitled to them. The Sport of the NBA is a TEAM SPORT. So even though I don’t believe in Best Ever. Team accomplishments is what TRUE great players play for. So they should be judged on the substance of their work over yrs. Not just numbers that you can use to make a point. A career is not just numbers. A Team is 12 players suiting up and going to war with you. And a franchise backing your play. If you really love this game. You’ll show it the respect it deserves. We all have our favorites.