Lakers In The News - 6/26/2015: Free Agent Rumors

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

DeAndre Jordan To Meet With Mavs, Lakers, Bucks

June 26th at 8:17am CST by Chuck Myron
Rumors of a rift between DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul are true, and the Mavs, Lakers and Bucks, as well as the Clippers, will have pitch meetings with Jordan at his home when free agent negotiating begins next week, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Chandler Parsons has been recruiting Jordan to the Mavs while the two have been hanging out together in Houston this summer, Turner also hears.

Bill Reiter of Fox Sports 1 first reported last month that Paul and Jordan had a falling out, though teammate Dahntay Jones and Clippers coach/executive Doc Rivers separately denied it. Rivers is apparently confident about re-signing the seven-year veteran, whom the Clippers will offer a max deal.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/Headlines/ExternalArticle?articleId=362140

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Aldridge likely to leave Portland for the Lakers

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The draft hasn't even started, but NBA free agency rumors are heating up.

LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the top unrestricted free agents this summer, and he should have no shortage of suitors if he decides to leave the Trail Blazers. Aldridge is reportedly favoring the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in free agency if he leaves Portland, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Following up on that report early Thursday ESPN's Chris Broussard reported that a source close to Aldridge said there's a "99.9 percent chance" he's leaving Portland.

The Aldridge rumors come on the heels of speculation about a possible Lakers trade for DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers could reportedly send the No. 2 pick, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson to Sacramento for Cousins. Imagine Los Angeles doing that deal, then signing Aldridge to a max contract. Kobe Bryant's final season would suddenly get a lot more interesting.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/Headlines/ExternalArticle?articleId=361914

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Lakers believe Russell is 'best player' in 2015 NBA draft

By JC Ansis, CNN Philippines

Updated 11:30 AM PHT Fri, June 26, 2015

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Days ahead of the 2015 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft, the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to pick Jahlil Okafor, a rare quality big man with a lot of upside.

But on Thursday (Friday PHT), they went with a different player.

The Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell as the second pick in the 2015 draft — behind Karl-Anthony Towns, who was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2015/06/26/lakers-russell-second-pick-nba-draft.html

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Lakers Rumors: Rounding Up Post-Draft Buzz and News Surrounding Los Angeles

By Chris Roling , Featured Columnist Jun 26, 2015

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Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers ushered in a new era in style Thursday at the 2015 NBA draft, shocking most onlookers near the top and broadcasting where the organization next turns its attention.

At No. 2, general manager Mitch Kupchak and Co. bucked conventional wisdom saying they would take one of the leftovers from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, instead taking Ohio State Buckeyes guard D'Angelo Russell.

While the Lakers did go on to add Wyoming Cowboys forward Larry Nance Jr. at No. 27, the organization's cards now sit on the table for everyone to see—the situation under the basket is the next order of business.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2507394-lakers-rumors-rounding-up-post-draft-buzz-and-news-surrounding-los-angeles

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Winners and Losers in the 2015 N.B.A. Draft

By BENJAMIN HOFFMANJUNE 26, 2015

It will be years before the 2015 N.B.A. draft can be properly evaluated, but based on what we know about the players so far, some teams appear to have come out of the day as winners or losers. Left out of this list are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the top pick and took the best player.

Los Angeles Lakers

D’Angelo Russell (2), Larry Nance Jr. (27), Anthony Brown (34)

Most people expected the Lakers to use the No. 2 pick on Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, but with the team stacked with promising frontcourt options, and LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love available in free agency, the team instead secured a potential star guard in Ohio State’s Russell, who can spend a year learning from Kobe Bryant. Russell does not have ideal size, but he can play either guard position, has incredible court vision as a passer and can score. If the team lands one of the big free-agent prizes, or if Julius Randle comes back from a broken leg and dominates, this pick will look brilliant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/sports/basketball/winners-and-losers-in-the-2015-nba-draft.html

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Complete 2015 NBA draft

Edit to just show Lakers picks
First Round

2. L.A. Lakers, D’Angelo Russell, g, Ohio State.

27. L.A. Lakers (from Houston), Larry Nance Jr., f, Wyoming.

34. L.A. Lakers, Anthony Brown, f, Stanford.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article25616356.html#storylink=cpy

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

NBA Free Agent Rumors: Brook Lopez to LA Lakers?

By Larry Seely 49 mins ago in Sports

Los Angeles - With the NBA Draft now in the books, fans and basketball experts have a better idea of what teams may do when free agency starts next month.
The LA Lakers showed their hand early by taking Ohio State product D'Angelo Russell with the second overall pick and while many believe the young point guard is a star in the makings, general manager Mitch Kupchak must now find a legitimate center to help with the finishing touches and once again make this franchise one of the best in the game.
Free agency will begin shortly and the recent news that Brook Lopez has opted out of his contract with Brooklyn could be just what the 'purple and gold' needs. The seven-footer is among the games best offensive big men and the type of player that would take pressure off Kobe Bryant, especially with the recent injury issues the All Star has encountered.
Ehran Kahn of Bleacher Report believes the addition of the 27-year-old would give the team a solid nucleus, but Kupchak would still need to find help on the glass, especially if they want to contend for another NBA title before Bryant retires.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/sports/nba-free-agent-rumors-brook-lopez-to-la-lakers/article/436858#ixzz3eD97i5fJ

GoldenThroat · Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 37474

Welcome back, Cha*n.

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

SweetP · Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 5:25 pm Post subject:

TDRock · Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:13 pm Post subject:

Yay a Cha*n post! When I first started lurking this site I used to read DBs analyses and Cha*n's news threads.

deal · Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:28 pm Post subject:

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Thank you SweetP And TDRock and all. I am glad to be back.

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Nice read, thank you EP

Lakers have their guard, what's next as the free-agency period nears?

BY ERIC PINCUS
June 26, 2015, 5:24 p.m.

On Thursday night, the Lakers added a key piece in guard D'Angelo Russell with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

With Russell, along with Kobe Bryant finishing out the final year of his contract at $25 million, and second-year guard Jordan Clarkson hoping to show he can improve upon his All-NBA rookie season, the Lakers are well stocked in the backcourt.

The franchise will also get power forward Julius Randle back on the court after a broken leg knocked him out in the first game of his rookie season.

Guard/forward Nick Young and forward Ryan Kelly, along with Bryant and Randle, are the only four Lakers with fully guaranteed salaries.

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83878853/

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

Post-Draft Reaction: Mitch Kupchak

by Joey Ramirez
Lakers.com Contributor
Posted: Jun 26, 2015

The Lakers landed three young players — D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance and Anthony Brown — with their picks in the 2015 NBA Draft. Afterward, General Manager Mitch Kupchak addressed the media regarding the team’s selections and future.

http://www.nba.com/lakers/150626_kupchakreaction

Cha*n · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 7233

What Should the Los Angeles Lakers Do Next After the 2015 NBA Draft?

By Ehran Khan , Featured Columnist Jun 26, 2015

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Elsa/Getty Images
Drafting D'Angelo Russell is just one step along the way to resurrecting a proud franchise.

With the Los Angeles Lakers' most anticipated draft in a generation now in the rear-view mirror, it's time to shift focus to the next phase of the rebuilding project.

We won't be dissecting the actual picks here. There are any number of places you can go to for that kind of analysis today—including B/R's Jonathan Wasserman's draft grades. Rather, we'll look at what the selections portend for L.A.'s immediate future.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2507988-what-should-the-los-angeles-lakers-do-next-after-the-2015-nba-draft

OregonLakerGuy · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 3:52 am Post subject:

Wow, I didn't even see you in here on Friday.
Good to have you back home.

DrumR · Star Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 1336

So very very happy to see you around! Hope you're doing well