Mental toughness is one of the things the Lakers focus on regarding draft prospects, Jovan Buha of the Los Angeles Times writes. They have devised a 90-second shooting drill, among others, to help determine how well players can perform under pressure.
“It’s really a test of, ‘OK, it’s one thing to walk in the gym fresh and move and shoot and be effective. But how are you playing basketball once you’re exhausted, once you’re past your limits?’” president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said. “Because that’s the fourth quarter. That’s when the game’s on the line. Can you perform at a high level when you’ve spent everything you have? And that’s the mentality that we know Kobe (Bryant) always played with. And so we have drills that test that fortitude.”
The Lakers hold the No. 22 pick, though they might trade it to help improve the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Buha adds.
We have more from the Western Conference:
- Steve Hetzel is expected to join Chauncey Billups’ Trail Blazers’ staff, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report tweets. Hetzel had been on the Magic’s staff under former head coach Steve Clifford.
- Michael Finley is finalizing a new contract with the Mavericks which will give him a larger role in their front office as assistant GM and VP of player personnel under new president of basketball operations Nico Harrison, Marc Stein of Substack tweets. Finley had been Dallas’ VP of basketball operations for the past six seasons.
- Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson, who could become an unrestricted free agent next summer, might be part of any major trade the team makes in the coming days, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News writes. Brunson, whose $1.82MM salary must be guaranteed on August 1st, is a valuable asset the Mavs could use to reel in a bigger target, Townsend notes.
- The Rockets have forged a partnership with Credit Karma Money as their new uniform patch sponsor, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The Rockets played last season without a uniform patch sponsor after the agreement with ROKiT cell phones ended before the 2020 summer restart.
If Mavs and Raptors are working on a deal to sign and trade Lowry, Brunson should be in the package
Mavs offer Lowry 3 year contract?
Mavs will keep Hardaway
The only mental toughness they need is someone knowing they will be traded and still playing well enough to be valued in said trade.
Very opportunistic by Credit Karma. :}
(A sense of irony may be required to be humored.)
Their symbol will be what— someone in a meditation pose with a cell phone calculator?
Okay I googled and their logo is a “ck” in green & white.
So if the Rockets get in a donnybrook it could be called the CK-fu game. Joe Bob says check it out.
Pelinka isn’t good at evaluating talent.
The guy got the job for being Kobe’s agent.
Everyone wanted to be Kobe’s agent.
GM is the Lakers weak spot, just being honest.
Their GM is LeBron James, so…..
Poor Luka now that Donny IS gone those mavs executives will Never build a team around him … Bring the 2020 Zags around him + a OG euro 5 and Batum he will get the job done …period
Yah considering the 2020 Zags had Suggs (top 6 prospect) and Kispert (top 12 prospect) And Ayayi (late first rounder). And Timme who will get drafted next year and Watson who will probably get drafted as well. Not much of a limb saying that he would win with them. And as far as a OG euro who’s that? Like Valacunis or like a Marc Gasol? And Batum….
What the Mavs need to do is recoup some draft picks. Don’t make the mistake the Cavs did with LeBrons first go around and trade all the pics for vets that don’t fit as well with him. They really need to get some young athletic shooters around Luka. Hopefully Josh Green and Tyrell Terry ply better as sophomores. Because right now with Saddiq Bey going one pick later and Xavier Tillman, Saben Lee, Kenyon Martin Jr and Nico Mannion looking like solid second rounders. They really messed up last years draft.
Being a Mavs fan… the only keepers on the roster right now r: Luka (obviously), DFS, Brunson, Boban (team leader/like ability reasons) and hopefully resigning THJ… Then Green, Terry and Tyler Bey until/unless there is a good offer to move into the first round and one of them r throw ins. They need to buy a second rounder or 2 and find a way to trade into the first round. Using maybe Cauley-Stein or Burke to Brooklyn or LA Clip because they both need a big and a bench guard for there late first.. Could b DeAndre Jordan and 27 for Cauley-Stein, Burke and Tyler Bey. Or Cauley-Stein and Kleber to the Clippers for Kennard and 25. Gets 2 bigger contracts off those books and basically buys a first.