Speaking to the media on Monday for the first time since being named the Lakers‘ head coach, Darvin Ham didn’t undersell Anthony Davis‘ importance to the franchise moving forward, as Jovan Buha of The Athletic relays.
“I think he’s the key,” Ham said of Davis. “We’ve all seen what can happen when he’s healthy and playing at a high level and in rhythm. We saw it in the bubble. His skill set, his size, his versatility, his defensive acumen, his relentlessness, his ability to give multiple efforts defensively is key. It’s going to be the foundation of the type of standard we set in the ‘Darvin Ham era.’ It’s going to be built on that defense and he’s going to be the main piece, the centerpiece of it.
“LeBron (James) is always going to be great; LeBron is going to be LeBron. Russ (Westbrook) is going to be Russ. But we need consistency out of Anthony Davis. We need him to be healthy, we need him to be in a good mental space. And we need him to be as consistent as possible, like we’re playing that championship-type level of basketball. And we’re going to do everything in our power to support him.”
Davis has been limited to just 76 games across the last two seasons due to injuries, but has played at his usual All-Star level when healthy, averaging 22.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 2.0 BPG in those 76 appearances.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Addressing the rumor that his former Pistons teammate Rasheed Wallace will join the Lakers’ staff as an assistant, Ham referred to is a “fluid” situation, according to Buha. “He’s definitely a candidate that we’ll take a look at, but we’re working through that,” Ham said, confirming that no formal agreement is in place yet.
- In a column for The Los Angeles Times, Dylan Hernandez argues that the Lakers’ leaders – including Ham and VP of basketball operations Rob Pelinka – are lowering expectations for the offseason moves they can make and shifting the responsibility for next season’s success from the front office to the players.
- Pelinka has interest in buying a second-round pick in this month’s draft, he told Mike Bresnahan during a Spectrum SportsNet interview (Twitter link via Marc Stein). The Lakers still have about $4.44MM available to send out in trades before the 2022/23 league year begins, as our cash tracker shows.
- Although Ham said all the right things about Russell Westbrook during his introductory press conference on Monday, it remains to be seen whether he’ll have more luck than Frank Vogel did getting the former MVP to fully buy in to his message, Bill Oram writes for The Athletic.
- In case you missed it, at least three Lakers assistant coaches – including David Fizdale – won’t be retained for 2022/23, but Phil Handy will be back. Here’s our full story.
Last time I remembered they brought a pick it got them clarkson. So what can it hurt doing it again
None of this matters until they bring in more wing shooting/defenders to fix the roster issues they’ve had for 2 years
I tottally agree that their ceilling if everything goes well for them, meaning they are healthy and RW somehow can get a lil better on D and meshing with LBJ, they can hope to be a lower seeded team IMO.
They must do some moves if they want to get home court advantage but im not sure how can they get 3 good rotation players for RW and any of their first round picks, they need too much pieces to turn into a really good team.
The problem is that they have very limited financial flexibility. They can only use the TPMLE (worth 6 million) and veterans minimum to fill out the remaining roster spots.
Though there are some free agent 3 & D players that can be signed to a minimum deal and others using the TPMLE.
Two years? This team had KCP, Caruso, and Kuzma on their roster this time last year, no?
Mr. Hernandez, please explain what assets the Lakers have that’s going to make a big difference this summer? Zero draft picks, zero cap space, and just 6 players under contract. If anything, the front office has a bit more realistic expectations for the team going forward. Pelinka addressed the need to get young players so Coach Ham can develop. In my opinion, the players’ leadership was piss poor last season as they watched their championship coach get thrown under the bus while the team played matador on defense. It’s a ‘players league’ until something goes wrong then it’s management and coaches fault.
What if
Lakers trade Westbrook, 2027 and 2029 unprotected first round picks
Result
Lakers would be a better team than 76ers
Why?
Value of Westbrook + 2027 unprotected + 2029 unprotected > Tobias Haris + Maxey
Davis + LeBron = Embiid + Harden
If you take the square root of Horton-Tucker and subtract the integer derived from the cube of Reaves taken to the 9th power do you get the equivalent sum of Embiid having seven apples that he divided evenly between Harden and Maxey?
Need to lay off the mescaline.
HC Ham put a lot of pressure on AD’s health… Was AD he malingering previously?— Is Ham advising the medicos to stock up on cortisone?— And why shorten AD’s career over a season that will likely go nowhere anyway?
One one hand… This is exhibit 1 that Ham is no Willie Green or Ime Udoka, who set aside what they cannot control instead of harping or dreaming what-ifs.
On the other… This is part of the FO’s plan to shift blame to players.
Either way… A product that would sell better than the Lakers is Laker Soap, due to the type of opera they’re dishing out. ;)
I guess they should just cut Davis. They wouldn’t want have him risk by having him play.God forbid stepping on the court for a game.
I’d assign Westbrook to the bench
Westbrook Sacrifices
Assumption
Westbrook wants 3 year $50 million contract after next season
Westbrook needs stats and numbers
Ham, how do you handle this issue?
Is Russ willing to come off the bench though? Russ also said it himself on instagram that he is still worth a max contract.
The need for everyone concerned (including commentators) to talk about Westbrook as if he’s still a positive asset is just weird. I don’t recall this much denial for any player in recent history. The Lakers would literally be a better team on the court if they just cut him. A 2nd round rookie would be more valuable — or at least less negative.
I feel the same… i really the team will be better with him out. He is really bad defensively, a really poor fit with AD and LBJ and a total distraction, from the outside he looks like toxic for the franchise if im being honest.
After making it through the Deng and Mosgov years. Probably can stomach 1 more year of Westbrook.
Coach Ham wants Westbrook to sacrifice.
Is this what the sacrifice means?
Westbrook sacrificed by opt out of contract. Lakers use that $47 million to sign free agents or use huge cap room to make good trades.
Jesus Christ, died as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
Trades don’t work that way.
Lakers need a sub-30 yr old 2 way player that can avg 20 a game.
Easy fix – Westbrook for Jaylen Brown who says no? /s
AD don’t need to start games as center they need a center mo bamba at the very least then Dwight as backup
They can trade westbrook and nunn and first round pick and second round pick or pick swaps for Malcolm brogdon buddy hield and another player from pacers or a third team if they keep westbrook they won’t be able to resign malik monk unless he take. A one year discount if so they can technically sign and trade monk with nunn or sign and. Trade monk with westbrook if they have to they got possibilities they just need to think and lay everything option out any trade they do will require a 3rd or 4th team