Jose Calderon Shoots Down Real Madrid Report
- After a recent Spanish report suggested that Lakers point guard Jose Calderon could return to Europe and play for Real Madrid later this season, Calderon shot down that notion, suggesting that the writer ought to get new sources (English link via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). Calderon, 35, has seen his minutes significantly reduced this season and is a free agent this summer, so he may be a buyout candidate, but he intends to finish the season in Los Angeles.
Lakers May Have Hard Time Trading Young Or Williams For 1st Rounder
- Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders examines the trade market for Lou Williams and Nick Young, and finds it difficult to envision the Lakers netting a first-round pick for either of the veterans. Pincus believes Los Angeles could flip one of them for a young player with untapped potential akin to the team’s 2014 Steve Blake trade. In that deal, the Lakers brought in Kent Bazemore, a player who flashed promise once he was given meaningful minutes.
- The Lakers may need to move Williams and Young in order to open up the cap space necessary to sign a max-level player, such as Blake Griffin, Pincus writes in the same piece. Young holds a player option for next season worth slightly under $5.7MM and Williams will make $7MM next season in the final year of his deal.
Lakers GM On Ingram, Russell, Team’s Future
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said he’s very excited about the future of the franchise, as he tells David Aldridge of NBA.com.
“I think we’ve got six or seven young players that I think all have a great future in front of them,” Kupchak said. “And we have a mix of older veterans that I think are going to help our young guys mature and make progress. We’re very excited about the future, and the development of the young players on this team.”
Kupchak added that he feels Brandon Ingram is making steady improvements this season. He believes the rookie can become a Giannis Antetokounmpo–type player down the road but also admits that the team doesn’t know where Ingram’s greatest strengths are yet.
“I think it’s going to be a challenge to figure out where he’s most productive, whether it’s bringing the ball up the floor and facilitating, or is it catching the ball on the wing and making a play? We don’t know yet. But for the last month or so, he’s demonstrated he can bring the ball up the floor. He doesn’t lose it. I don’t think that part’s the question. I think it’s a matter of us figuring out where he can be most productive,” Kupchak said.
The GM gave a similar answer when he was asked about D’Angelo Russell. The team is still evaluating its young guys, though he believes the roster has the necessary pieces to play at a high level on both the offensive and defensive ends.
It was reported earlier in the month that Los Angeles isn’t expected to trade Ingram, Russell and Julius Randle. The team is reportedly unlikely to trade Larry Nance Jr. or Jordan Clarkson as well.
Ivica Zubac Exceeding Expectations
- Ivica Zubac has exceeded coach Luke Walton‘s expectations. The 19-year-old rookie has played in each of the Lakers‘ last eight games, and was even used as a positive example when the team reviewed tape. “It’s a good message and a good visual when the guys see it on film,” Walton told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. “We don’t call any plays for Zu and he ends up with 15 shot attempts because he sets hard screens or rolls hard to the basket with his hands ready and when they collapse, he’s ready to make the pass to the weak side. I think that’s a good lesson for everyone to learn as far as you don’t need play calls for you to get opportunities to score the ball.” Zubac is averaging 4.9 points on 12.3 MPG in 2016/17.
Lakers Notes: Russell, Randle, D-Fenders
After a promising start to the season, the Lakers are now in a tie for the second-worst record in the NBA, as our 2016/17 NBA Reverse Standings show. While there was some optimism in Los Angeles in the fall that the team could compete for a playoff spot this season, the Lakers have lost 22 of 28 games since the start of December, effectively taking them out of the running.
As Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) details, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle have slowed down after hot starts, and it’s not clear whether either of those players – or Brandon Ingram – is a future star. If there’s no future star currently on the roster, the Lakers may have to hope they can keep their 2017 first-round pick (top-three protected) and land a player that fits that bill in the lottery. As Pelton observes, the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement will make it less likely that a top player will change teams in free agency, so the draft looks like L.A.’s best bet to land an impact player.
Let’s round up a few more Lakers notes…
- With Kobe Bryant no longer on the roster, the Lakers are lacking a definitive leader, writes Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Times. “We don’t have a guy who’s naturally that person for us, so it needs to come from multiple people,” said head coach Luke Walton.
- In the post-Kobe era, David Aldridge of NBA.com takes an interesting and in-depth look at the Lakers’ current situation, including Jeanie Buss‘ views on the franchise.
- The Los Angeles D-Fenders are being rebranded as the South Bay Lakers at the conclusion of the 2016/17 D-League season, the team announced this week in a press release. “This is an opportunity to leverage the iconic Lakers brand, celebrate our amazing community and emphasize our franchise’s accomplishments over the last 10 years while we continue to compete for an NBA D-League championship,” said Joey Buss, the president and CEO of the Lakers’ D-League affiliate.
Lakers Better Off With Top 3 Pick Than Wins
- The Lakers would be better off emphasizing player development than chasing a playoff spot, writes Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Changes to the league’s collective bargaining agreement put extra pressure on drafting players now that it will be harder to pry players away from other teams via free agency. A potential No. 3 pick in 2017 could be the next key component of Los Angeles’ process.
D’Angelo Russell Out One To Two Weeks
A right MCL sprain and right calf strain will sideline Lakers’ point guard D’Angelo Russell for one to two weeks, writes Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com.
The injuries were confirmed today when Russell underwent an MRI. Doctors will re-evaluate his condition in one week.
Russell was hurt Friday after stepping on Julius Randle‘s foot in a game against the Pacers. He walked to the bench under his own power and later called it “just a little pain.”
“I don’t think it’s as bad as I initially thought,” coach Luke Walton said. “I saw him go down and I was pretty worried for him, but he said he feels all right when I checked on him at halftime.”
Russell is averaging 14.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 34 games.
Ingram Makes Case For Starting Lineup; Russell's Knee Injury Presumed Minor
No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram has made great progress over the course of his first three months in the NBA, writes Bill Oram of the Orange County Register, and the humble Lakers rookie deserves to start in place of veteran Luol Deng.
Oram cites Ingram’s preparation and focus, as well as head coach Luke Walton‘s recent praise of the young forward, as reasons why change should come to the Lakers’ lineup.
“There’s plenty of times where the best answer for our success is Brandon,” Walton told Oram after the Lakers took down Indiana on Friday, “And there’s plenty of times where we just want to challenge the hell out of him and see how he responds.”
- Second-year Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell tweaked his knee Friday, but the mild MCL strain may not even force him to miss time, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “I don’t think it’s as bad as I initially thought,” Walton said of the fall. “When I saw him go down, I was pretty worried, but he said he felt all right when I checked on him at halftime.” Russell will undergo an MRI on Saturday.
Luol Deng Out Indefinitely
Luol Deng suffered a sprained wrist against the Pistons on Sunday and the team announced that injury will keep him out indefinitely, as Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times relays. Deng’s X-rays came back negative, but DiGiovanna notes that the small forward was seen with his right hand in a heavy bandage.
Deng missed one game earlier in the season because of tendinitis in his right bicep. He also sat out another game to rest.
The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $72MM deal with the Lakers and he’s the team’s highest paid player. He’s averaging 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 27.6 minutes per game this season.
Walton Not Convinced Nance Jr.'s Return Is Imminent
- It seemed as though Larry Nance Jr. was nearing his return to the court for the Lakers, but head coach Luke Walton isn’t so sure. “It doesn’t look like he’s going to be back at least this week,” Walton told Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Later adding: “If he can do two straight practices without pain, he’ll be good to play.”