July 13th: "Radmanovic Makes It Official"

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Radmanovic Makes It Official
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
July 13, 2006

The Lakers formally announced the signing of Vladimir Radmanovic, or, as they hope to refer to him in coming years, the next Toni Kukoc.

Radmanovic is the shooter they wanted in Phil Jackson's triangle offense, a lanky 6-foot-10 forward who officially became part of the Lakers on Wednesday, the first day teams could sign free agents after an 11-day moratorium.

Radmanovic, 25, brings a smooth stroke — he holds a Lakers' opponent record with eight three-pointers in a January 2005 game with Seattle — and provides another big body for the frontcourt, although he is not a strong rebounder or defender.

He has career averages of 10.1 points and 38.1% shooting from three-point range, but only 4.6 rebounds.

"Certainly we appreciate his ability to shoot the basketball," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "With the guys that we have on this team that can create shots for themselves and create opportunities for other players, that's going to be a key component for what he brings to this team.

"At a very young age, we're hopeful that he continues to improve in the other areas of his game as well."

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Wishing for a shooting star

Lakers hope Radmanovic can be a force from the perimeter
BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - For a moment Wednesday afternoon, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak tried to put himself in the place of a Western Conference coach, when describing how a team would attempt to match up on defense with Vladimir Radmanovic on the court.

"You have to guard Vlade," Kupchak said. "He might miss three or four in a row, but I'm telling you right now, the coach on the opposing team is not going to say, `Leave him open and double-team Kobe.'

"They're going to say, `Don't leave him open. I know he's missed four in a row. Don't worry about it. He can make four in a row.' He's got to be guarded, and that makes it easier, whether he's making shots or not, for the other guys on our team."

At the same time, Kupchak went out of his way to portray Radmanovic, a career 38.1 percent 3-point shooter and the Lakers' big free-agent acquisition of the summer, as more than just a player good from 24feet and beyond.

"We don't look at Vlade as a shooter," Kupchak said, "and I hope he doesn't look at himself as just a shooter, either."

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Overseas call did the trick
Radmanovic got the message and quickly decided he wanted to become the newest Laker.

By AL BALDERAS
The Orange County Register

EL SEGUNDO – An early-morning phone call to Belgrade almost two weeks ago did more than just awaken Vladimir Radmanovic. It let the free-agent forward from Serbia and Montenegro know how much the Lakers wanted him.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson placed the initial call, but Radmanovic, 25, also heard from Kobe Bryant, former Lakers center Vlade Divac and General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

By that time, the only thing left was for both parties to work out new contract details. That didn't take long.

"Within 21/2 hours, we had secured the services of Vlade Radmanovic," Kupchak recalled. "It's very unusual in free agency to be able to consummate a deal that quickly."

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Lakers dial long distance

RADMANOVIC: The new sharpshooter was wooed by an early call from Jackson and Kupchak.

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 12, 2006
By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise

EL SEGUNDO - It was in the wee hours of July 1 when Vladimir Radmanovic's phone rang at his Belgrade home. Radmanovic was not asleep because his agent had told him to expect a call from an NBA team.

On the other end of the phone were Lakers coach Phil Jackson and General Manager Mitch Kupchak, both extolling the virtues of the Lakers and how Radmanovic and his long-range shooting could play a role in the team's success.

That conversation, the first he had with any team during the negotiating period -- even coming before his former team, the Clippers, made contact -- was all it took for Radmanovic to agree to a contract with the Lakers.

He signed his five-year, $29 million deal Wednesday, the first day of the signing period.

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Farmar Acing Geometry

12:34 AM PDT on Thursday, July 13, 2006
By JIM ALEXANDER
The Press-Enterprise

LONG BEACH - This much about Jordan Farmar we know: He's a quick study.

The Lakers' first-round draft choice from UCLA is running the triangle with efficiency after just seven practices. Meanwhile, the rest of his Summer Pro League teammates bump into each other, forget to move without the ball and sometimes threaten to turn the triangle into a trapezoid or octagon.

"It's basic basketball principles," Farmar said. "When one thing happens, a series of events (follow). I just understand it. It's what I would do normally if I were playing at the park or something."

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Slaughter nets 16 to pace Lakers' win
Lakers 99, Mavs 87 The forward has his best game this summer; Bynum is off target.

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The Press-Enterprise

Former Riverside North star Marcus Slaughter scored 16 points and Kasib Powell had a game-high 18 points to lead the Lakers to a 99-87 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the Pyramid in Long Beach in Summer Pro League play Wednesday.

Slaughter made 7 of 9 field goals and grabbed six rebounds. Powell went 8 for 11 and had five rebounds.

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

A Bubbly Feeling for the Clippers
July 13, 2006

For the Lakers it was a day of addition, while for the Clippers it was about defection and retention. Ordinarily that would add up to a "W" for the Lakers, but in the new local balance it's advantage Clippers.

It's impossible to consider one team without comparison to the other these days. And in this case the Clippers' lengthy scroll of futility actually works in their favor.

They don't have the championship banners and retired numbers literally hanging over their heads. The one good thing about not having any red-white-and-blue fabric on the Clippers side of Staples Center (Do they even have a side? Have they bothered to reserve space?) is that it makes otherwise ordinary accomplishments seem champagne-worthy.

Yes, that was a bottle of Dom Perignon embossed with the Clippers logo being toted out of the Chick Hearn press room toward Sam Cassell's limo at Staples Center on Wednesday after the Clippers announced Cassell had re-signed for two more years.