News 'n Views - Aug 2016: ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne Talks Expectations in LA (Video)
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2016 7:46 am    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
Jud Buechler: “It’s an exciting time for the Lakers”
by Honi Ahmadian - lakersoutsiders.com

The Lakers are soon to start a new era in their history. For the first time in 20 seasons, they will be without Kobe Bryant.

Instead, they will be rebuilding with a roster filled with young players. D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram, among the multitude of other talented core members, are seen as the holders of the franchise’s future.

Since Luke Walton was hired as the head coach of the team, the key word being thrown around has been “development.” The Lakers seem content to ride with the young players, surround them with veteran mentors, and hope they develop into great pieces for a contending team sometime soon.

That same statement was echoed by Jud Buechler, one of the new assistants on Walton’s staff. Buechler spoke with the Southern California News Group at a beach volleyball tournament in Manhattan Beach. Most notably, he discussed the coaching staff’s goals and expectations in the post-Kobe era.

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This guy seems very smart. Good to see the Lakers finally getting people with knowledge of the game.
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:24 am    Post subject:

Luke Walton has the keys to unlock the future of the Lakers
by Dillon Hiser - lakersoutsiders.com

Remember when the Lakers had a coach that was butting heads with the future of the franchise instead of trying to support and bring them forward? Well, those days are now long gone.

When the team announced that Luke Walton would become the 26th coach in franchise history, they sequentially put the future of the franchise in his hands. In doing so, the front office is trusting the first time head coach with one of the youngest teams in the NBA which in itself is a daunting task, but one that Walton seems fit to take on.

As a former world champion with the organization Walton has been at the very peak with the purple and gold and given time, support, and patience, he can return Los Angeles to its past glory.

This is a world of unknowns for Lakers fans as they are not used to a rebuild or a team without one of the cornerstones of the franchise, Kobe Bryant. Last season should have been primarily about building the confidence of the youth movement and it couldn’t have been more of the opposite. But with Walton, it seems like the environment for the youngsters will be entirely contrasting, and he hasn’t even coached a single game yet.

Since the first day on the job with his introductory press conference Luke has been raving about the players pegged to lead this team in the new age of LA basketball and they seem just as animated as he is about learning under his tutelage.

D’Angelo Russell started communicating with his new head coach as much as possible while Walton was wrapping up his second straight NBA Finals appearance as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, texting Walton about various aspects of the game that they’ll be able to work on.

With this being his first head coaching gig, the players that represent the future of the team and their new coach are on a similar timeline which has made it easier for them to work together and communicate. Walton will have to balance the line between continuously building the confidence of players such as Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and rookie Brandon Ingram and being the motivator and assertive voice behind their growth as players and teammates.

Being able to connect with players on a level to where they not only respect Walton but feel they can confide in him as well is an aspect of coaching that should certainly help during a rebuild and an aspect that he has gotten off to a strong start in. This is something that Byron Scott tried to do but seemingly failed.

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PostPosted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:26 am    Post subject:

Larry Nance Jr. Discusses His Expected Role In New Offense
by Maximo Gonzales - lakersnation.com

Since being take with the 27th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. has largely been considered a steal thanks to his exciting big play ability, and overall polished game.

In fact, Nance played so well last year, and looked so improved over the summer, that expectations have risen quite a bit with the arrival of new head coach Luke Walton and his plans for a fast-pace, up-tempo offense. Nance recently sat down Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders to discuss his ideal role in Walton’s new offense:

“Kind of how I played this summer league, get the ball off the rim, push it myself, make decisions in the break. Run that high pick-and-roll with D’Angelo and when he drops it off to me, I turn into a point forward. And so I think you’ll see a lot of me and Julius (Randle) playing that Draymond-type role, that decision-making big.”

Speaking of Randle, there has been plenty of speculation as to who should get the lion’s share of minutes at the four spot. However if Nance has his way, the two would mostly be sharing the court, rather than the minutes:

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PostPosted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:27 am    Post subject:

Lakers Officially Sign Marcelo Huertas
by Eric Yee - lakeshowlife.com

The Los Angeles Lakers have finally signed Brazilian veteran, Marcelo Huertas though the details of the deal have yet to be released


The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with Marcelo Huertas in early July, but it wasn’t until now that the team officially signed his contract.

Similar to Tarik Black and Brandon Ingram, who are still unsigned at this point, sources believe that the team is delaying these signings in hopes of finding yet another Jose Calderon type salary dump deal, or another undisclosed trade.

That said, even with signing Huertas, the fact that Ingram and Black remain off the books makes a deal still possible.

At age 32, the savvy Brazilian veteran only averaged 4.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes of play — 9.8, 7.5 and 3.7 adjusted per 36 minutes — but he served as the catalyst for the team on many occasions with his court vision and nifty, Steve Nash-esque floaters.

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PostPosted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:30 am    Post subject:

Kobe Bryant Receives Global Impact Player Award From NBPA
by Maximo Gonzales - lakersnation.com

While there was certainly a decline in Kobe Bryant’s play during his last years with the Los Angeles Lakers, there was never any doubt about his status as an international superstar. Despite now being retired, the accolades continue to pour in for the five-time champ.

In a poll conducted by the NBPA where awards are voted on solely by NBA players, Kobe was recognized as the player with the “Most Global Impact”:

🌎🌍🌏 Internationally Known. Global Impact Player goes to @KobeBryant #PlayersVoice VIDEO

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 4, 2016


The fact that Kobe has been awarded this honor should definitely come as no surprise, given that he’s lead the league in international jersey sales almost every year since 2008. Although the Lakers have largely been one of the worst teams in the league the past few years, fan loyalty along with the respect of fellow players, never seemed to waver.

Just looking at Kobe’s roots as a kid growing up in Italy, everything about him just screams “global impact.” Aside from being purple and gold royalty here in Los Angeles, Kobe has garnered die-hard fan bases around the world, including the world’s most-populous nation in China.

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PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 10:33 pm    Post subject:

D’Angelo Russell looks like a superstar in waiting
by Honi Ahmadian - lakersoutsiders.com

As I’ve written about each member of the Lakers’ incumbent youth movement, I have realized one thing. Each of these players has a floor and ceiling that spans a wide range of possibilities for how their careers turn out.

Jordan Clarkson could be a sixth man that solely provides scoring or he could become a very nice complementary piece on a starting lineup.

Julius Randle could only be an energy big off the bench who rebounds at a high rate, or he could become one of the most unique players in the league as a do-it-all forward.

Larry Nance, Jr. could be a player known solely for his athleticism and dunking ability, or he could become the ultimate Swiss Army knife that perfectly complements the rest of the core.

Anthony Brown may become the highly coveted three-and-D wing he was drafted to be; he may also be a solid defender whose lack of offense makes him borderline unplayable.

Even Tarik Black could become a legitimate rotational piece on a good team as a rim protector and pick-and-roll threat, or he could be just a 15th man for another couple of seasons before fading away into obscurity.

The Lakers as a whole follow that same model. There is one scenario in which every player gets extremely close to their ceiling and the team as a whole rides their success. There is another in which nearly every player shows little to no growth, and the team suffers and becomes destined for mediocrity.

This is all to say: nothing about the Lakers is a given. Now entering the fourth season since they lost Dwight Howard to free agency, they are still very much in the midst of a rebuild. There is no telling how long the rebuild will last, how long management will stay the same, or how long until ownership becomes frustrated and tries to trade for a star in an effort to win right away.

But even in the midst of the load of questions placed on and around LAL, they may have found one sure thing: D’Angelo Russell.

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PostPosted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 10:34 pm    Post subject:

Huertas Leads Brazil's Upset Over Spain
by Joey Ramirez - nba.com

With Marcelo Huertas guiding the way, the Brazilian National Team gave its home crowd an unforgettable performance, upsetting No. 2 Spain at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 66-65.

“Marcelinho” was the conductor of Brazil’s offense, tallying 11 points and seven assists — both of which were team-highs.

The Laker also pitched in four rebounds, as ninth-ranked Brazil took a three-point halftime lead at Carioca Arena 1 before piling on with a 19-14 third quarter.

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:37 am    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
Huertas Leads Brazil's Upset Over Spain
by Joey Ramirez - nba.com

With Marcelo Huertas guiding the way, the Brazilian National Team gave its home crowd an unforgettable performance, upsetting No. 2 Spain at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 66-65.

“Marcelinho” was the conductor of Brazil’s offense, tallying 11 points and seven assists — both of which were team-highs.

The Laker also pitched in four rebounds, as ninth-ranked Brazil took a three-point halftime lead at Carioca Arena 1 before piling on with a 19-14 third quarter.

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:06 pm    Post subject:

Lakers have toughest 2016-17 schedule in NBA
by Honi Ahmadian - lakersoutsiders.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to be very good next season. Despite the new coaching staff, the Lakers’ youth and inexperience will still lead to plenty of losses.

Nevertheless, most fans expect some sizable growth next year. The development of the youth in addition to some added vets should lead to some more winning after a 17-win season.

That may be more difficult than expected, however. The Lakers will have the hardest schedule in the league as calculated by last year’s records.

The following was calculated by Jared Dubin of Hardwood Paroxysm.

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:07 pm    Post subject:

Lakers 2016-2017 season schedule released: Opening night, key games and more
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

The road map to the '16-17 Lakers season has been unveiled!

The NBA woke up from its summer slumber for just a brief moment with the release of the 2016-2017 season schedule. The Los Angeles Lakers will open their season on Oct. 26 against a visiting Houston Rockets team. The Lakers opened their '14-15 campaign against the Rockets in a game memorable not only for Kobe Bryant infamously calling Dwight Howard soft following a cheeky altercation between the two, but because of the devastating injury that stole Julius Randle's rooke season away from him.

The final game of the season will be up in the bay against the Golden State Warriors on Apr. 12. Christmas Day will once again be a hallway rivalry game between the Lakers (designated home team) and Clippers.

The Lakers will manage through 16 back-to-backs, including the one-and-only second-game-of-a-back-to-back in Denver on Mar. 13. As tradition goes every year once the schedule is released, feel free to mark that meeting with an "L" on your calendar ahead of time.

The annual Grammy road trip will amount to a five-game road trip for the Lakers that takes up the first two weeks of February. The purple and gold will spend most of their time on the East coast while Staples Center turns into the epicenter of music, visiting Washington (Feb. 2), Boston (Feb. 3), New York (Feb. 6), Detroit (Feb. 8) and Milwaukee (Feb. 10). The Lakers return home to host the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 14 before heading back out on the road to drop in on the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 15 and hitting the All-Star break.

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:09 pm    Post subject:

Timofey Mozgov reportedly injures groin playing for Russian National Team
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

The severity of the injury is unknown right now.

Update: Mike Bresnahan of Time Warner Cable Sportsnet reports that Mozgov will have an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of his injury. Original story follows.

Newly signed Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov has “injured his groin muscle in the second quarter of the friendly match with Ukraine,” according to a translated report from Russian news outlet Match TV.

Mozgov, who already had issues recovering from a knee surgery last summer, agreed to and subsequently signed a four-year deal worth a reported $64 million guaranteed with the Lakers this offseason.

This injury is a kick in the, well, groin for the Lakers, who were surely hoping a summer to recover would allow Mozgov to regain the form he displayed for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014-15 season. Cleveland acquired Mozgov in a midseason deal, and his rim protection and boulder-solid screens was a major factor in propelling the Cavaliers to the Finals that year.

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:11 pm    Post subject:

Kobe Bryant credited with reshaping culture of USA Basketball, helping lead team to 2008, 2012 gold medals
by Dusan Vranic - AP / ocregsiter.com

The pre-practice meeting had just started, and Kobe Bryant arrived drenched in sweat. As his teammates slept, Bryant already had been awake for nearly three hours to lift weights and complete a shooting workout.

Bryant’s offseason routine was already legendary among his Lakers teammates with endless tales of his uncompromising work ethic. This marked the first time many of the NBA’s other top stars were able to witness it. So it only seemed fitting that Bryant cemented the same reputation with the U.S. Olympic team, beginning with his intensive training regimen when Team USA practiced in Las Vegas nearly nine years ago.

Team USA (3-0), which plays Serbia today at 3 p.m. PDT in a pool-play game at the Rio Olympics, aims to win its sixth gold medal since NBA players could compete in the Games. After winning gold in Beijing (2008) and London (2012), the recently retired Bryant is not participating. But as several current and former U.S. players and coaches argued, Bryant’s shadow still looms over the program.

USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo credits Bryant for playing “a very large part” in revamping the program’s culture after the 2004 squad settled for bronze at the Athens Games.

“His work ethic, approach and how he appreciates the game is infectious,” Team USA forward Kevin Durant said last month in Las Vegas. “He’s someone who loves to play so much. He’s competitive when he steps in between those lines. He wants perfection.”

Bryant logged ridiculous hours in pursuit of that perfection, just weeks after having poured himself into an NBA regular season that ended with a six-game loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals. Watching Bryant work left Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh shaking his head, mindful that the future Hall of Famer had just logged extended minutes during that playoff run.

“I thought I was working hard,” Bosh said. “Now I have to get back into the gym.”

After training for three weeks together before heading to Beijing, former U.S. Olympic teammate Carlos Boozer noticed the entire roster had adopted Bryant’s routine.

“We all clung to it,” said Boozer, who later played with Bryant as a member of the Lakers in 2014-15 and recently agreed to a deal to play in China. “It soon became our workout, not just his workout.”

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PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:47 pm    Post subject: Can the Lakers end up near the top of the NBA Draft Lottery again?

Can the Lakers end up near the top of the NBA Draft Lottery again?
By Thai Luong- lakersoutsiders

The NBA released their 2016-17 schedule on Thursday with the Lakers set to open their campaign against the Houston Rockets on October 26th in Los Angeles. There are still two months left in the offseason for the Lakers to prepare for that game, but in the meantime, fans will dissect and analyze the team’s schedule.

In the other words, which games are winnable and which games are not? If the past three years have taught Lakers’ fans anything, it is that there shouldn’t be any surprise if the Lakers wind up in NBA Draft Lottery contention. But will the Lakers end up in the bottom three of the standings once again this year?

Maybe not, but highly likely.

It is hard to give an exact number as to how many wins the Lakers can improve from last year. It is also not that hard to win more than 17 games. There is no question that the Lakers have improved from last year. They hired Luke Walton, drafted Brandon Ingram and signed key veteran free agents.

The problem is that the Lakers are not the only team that upgraded their roster. The Western Conference is still stacked and the bottom teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans have all improved.

The Lakers could win as many as 30 games and still end up with the worst record in the Western Conference. Minnesota drafted stud point guard Kris Dunn to add to their already tremendous young core of Karl Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine. They also hired an excellent coach in Tom Thibodeau to compete for a playoff berth.

Denver is also a rising team in the west that upgraded their roster as well. They drafted guard Jamal Murray to go along with their core of Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic. The Suns will have a healthier backcourt than last season with Bledsoe and Knight returning to full form. They also drafted a talented frontcourt duo of Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. The Pelicans won’t be as mediocre as they were last year with Anthony Davis presumably coming back in full form this season.

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PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:56 pm    Post subject: Re: Can the Lakers end up near the top of the NBA Draft Lottery again?

[quote="Lakerswaves"]Can the Lakers end up near the top of the NBA Draft Lottery again?
By Thai Luong- lakersoutsiders

The NBA released their 2016-17 schedule on Thursday with the Lakers set to open their campaign against the Houston Rockets on October 26th in Los Angeles. There are still two months left in the offseason for the Lakers to prepare for that game, but in the meantime, fans will dissect and analyze the team’s schedule.

In the other words, which games are winnable and which games are not? If the past three years have taught Lakers’ fans anything, it is that there shouldn’t be any surprise if the Lakers wind up in NBA Draft Lottery contention. But will the Lakers end up in the bottom three of the standings once again this year?

Maybe not, but highly likely.

It is hard to give an exact number as to how many wins the Lakers can improve from last year. It is also not that hard to win more than 17 games. There is no question that the Lakers have improved from last year. They hired Luke Walton, drafted Brandon Ingram and signed key veteran free agents.

The problem is that the Lakers are not the only team that upgraded their roster. The Western Conference is still stacked and the bottom teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans have all improved.

The Lakers could win as many as 30 games and still end up with the worst record in the Western Conference. Minnesota drafted stud point guard Kris Dunn to add to their already tremendous young core of Karl Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine. They also hired an excellent coach in Tom Thibodeau to compete for a playoff berth.

Denver is also a rising team in the west that upgraded their roster as well. They drafted guard Jamal Murray to go along with their core of Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic. The Suns will have a healthier backcourt than last season with Bledsoe and Knight returning to full form. They also drafted a talented frontcourt duo of Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. The Pelicans won’t be as mediocre as they were last year with Anthony Davis presumably coming back in full form this season.

continued[/quote

Dallas
New Orleans
Minnesota
Denver

All have a chance of missing the playoffs, I won't mention teams like Sacramento and Phoenix cause those teams are to predictable.
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:42 am    Post subject:

Can Julius Randle be the Lakers’ Draymond Green?
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

Is this like a Monstars stealing talent in “Space Jam” situation? Probably not.

The Golden State Warriors’ emergence as the premiere team of this generation have left everyone wanting to emulate them. It’s a noble goal, but probably an unrealistic one because of just how amazing and unlikely the Warriors’ own journey was.

Still, it hasn’t stopped players from trying. The Los Angeles Lakers hiring former Warriors interim head coach/assistant Luke Walton has only intensified cries for the purple-and-gold to take a few cues from the Dubs.

Larry Nance, Jr. was the last to do so, saying that he wants to play the Draymond Green role for the Lakers. In an interview with Mike Bresnahan of Time Warner Cable Sportsnet, Julius Randle revealed that Nance, Jr. isn’t the only Laker who wants to do so.

“[Green] does all the things on the defensive end technique-wise that a lot of guys don’t see,” said Randle (as transcribed by Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation). “Offensively, he really just knows how to play the game. He doesn’t really force anything, he just takes what is given to him. He plays with great passion and energy. Those are things that I can definitely take from his game and put them into my game.”

Those are all laudable goals, but can Randle get accomplish them? There are reasons to believe the answer is yes, but probably more evidence to believe it’s no.

The main bullet point in the “no” column is simple: there has never been a Draymond Green before, so it’s hard to believe the Lakers have one (much less two) on their roster. Whether or not there is reason to hope Randle can become Green mostly depends on how optimistic one is.

Randle played in less than 14 minutes during his first NBA season, and Green only averaged about that many minutes per game, so let’s compare their per-36 minutes averages as sophomores (all stats courtesy of Basketball Reference):

Green: 10.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, three assists, 1.4 blocks, two steals, 40.7 percent shooting, 14.8 percent usage rate.

Randle: 14.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.8 steals, 42.9 percent shooting, 21.2 percent usage rate


So Randle is definitely better, case closed, right? Not exactly, hypothetical straw-man!

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PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:44 am    Post subject:

Brandon Ingram wants to win NBA Rookie of the Year Award
by Gary Kester - lakersoutsiders.com

NBA training camps are still under two months away from starting, but with the league releasing the schedule for the 2016-17 regular season, excitement is starting to build.

For Lakers fans, the excitement has been there ever since the team replaced Byron Scott with Luke Walton as the 26th head coach in franchise history. The buzz only continued to build after Los Angeles’ NBA Draft Lottery luck continued, landing the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

The pick netted the Lakers the latest cornerstone piece in their promising, young core in Brandon Ingram.

Ingram, a freakishly long, athletic sharpshooter out on the wing with tremendous potential on both ends of the floor, was exactly what the Lakers needed. His arrival has sparked high hopes from fans for the future of the franchise. Those expectations probably won’t be tested for at least a couple of seasons, but the 18-year-old from Duke wants to produce right away in purple and gold.

In an interview that included Mark Medina from the Los Angeles Daily News, Ingram admitted that he has his sights set on winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award this season.

“That’s something that is on my mind,” Ingram said in a phone interview with Southern California News Group. “All rookies want to win Rookie of the Year. That’s something that drives me.”

Although Ingram hopes to make a name for himself in the NBA right out of the gate, he understands that he will have to endure his lumps as a rookie with the Lakers. People around him have noticed that he has a full understanding of that, including those at the NBA’s rookie transition program.

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:18 am    Post subject:

Kobe praises D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Luke Walton
by Honi Ahmadian - lakersoutsiders.com

It has been over three months since Kobe Bryant stepped away from the game in a blaze of glory. The Los Angeles Lakers will be without arguably the best player in their franchise history for the first time in 20 seasons.

But despite Bryant no longer leading the way in LA, the Lakers have an exciting future ahead of them. Armed with young talent and a new head coach, the next era of the team’s golden history is set to begin.

Nevertheless, the Lakers will still be connected with Bryant for a long time. Many of the players on this roster have been mentored, to some extent, by the shooting guard. As such, his fingerprints are all over the Lakers’ roster.

Bryant caught up with Mike Bresnahan of TWC Sportsnet to talk about this Lakers core and what the future holds in store for them. Much like many other fans, Kobe is excited about this young core and their potential moving forward:

“They have a really young core, and a really good core. Now it’s just a matter of them growing together and having those pieces mesh which I think is a great opportunity because now at this age where their games are still developing, they can develop their games and their strengths around each other. And so, they have a lot of potential. Hopefully, they can put it together sooner rather than later.”

Bryant was notably asked about two young Lakers in particular: D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram. Russell has become the de facto leader of the Lakers, at least among the young core, since Bryant’s departure. Ingram is the new kid on the block but has perhaps as much potential as any other young player in the league.

Bryant was optimistic about both of their futures. Regarding Ingram, who Bryant has praised before, #24 said the following:

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:19 am    Post subject:

Brandon Ingram’s first purchase goes to his parents
by Dillon Hiser - lakersoutsiders.com

The Lakers first round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram, seems to have his head on straight. The former Duke Blue Devil is about to come into some major money when he officially signs his contract with the team. Sometimes all that money can be troublesome for young guys in Ingram’s position, but that doesn’t look like it will be the case for him.

Hailing from Kinston, North Carolina, Ingram has always been supported massively by his parents so he figured now would be a great time to repay them in some way.

A big way.

In a piece by ESPN’s Ian Begley, several rookies were asked about their first big purchase with their newfound fortune. Ingram likes to keep a low profile and has a maturity about him that is rare for a 19-year old, which he displays in his response (h/t Ryan Mayer of CBS LA).

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:21 am    Post subject:

Anthony Brown must seek the road to redemption
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

Anthony Brown’s rookie season was uninspiring, leaving him few places to go besides up or out.

Anthony Brown is a curious case. He’s still an incredibly raw prospect that can be an important piece of the Lakers’ rotation during the ‘16-17 season, but based on what we’ve seen from the Stanford swingman, it’s hard to project him making a big impact this year. It’s not that he definitely won’t, it’s that he hasn’t proven otherwise yet.

There’s a point to be made that a young player trying to find his way under Byron Scott was doomed as soon as his name was called on draft night, but look no further than Larry Nance, Jr. to see proof that the opposite was just as possible. Sure, the Lakers’ wing rotation was bloated, but Brown couldn’t secure playing time over Nick Young (who Scott hated) before a foot injury sidelined him for the year. That’s worrisome.

His two "NBA-level" skills were projected to be three-point shooting and perimeter defense. Brown shot just 28.6 percent from deep (70 attempts) and was a far cry from being considered a lockdown defender. It’s difficult to imagine Anthony checking starting-quality small forwards and shooting guards on a nightly basis, but easy to project opposing coaches trying to pick on him on any given possession. Las Vegas Summer League proved to be a just as mixed of a bag for Brown, who showed some of those defensive chops, but still shot a measly 29.4 percent from beyond the arc despite the free-flowing nature of the desert exhibition league.

Out of the young group the Lakers have gathered none have more to prove than Brown.

Continued....
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lakersfreak
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:23 am    Post subject:

The Lakers have reportedly signed Yi Jianlian in free agency for some reason
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

The team may have found a use for their open roster spot.

Update: The People’s Daily, China is reporting the Lakers have agreed to a one-year deal with Jianlian worth approximately the veteran’s minimum. Stay tuned to Silver Screen and Roll for the latest. Original story follows.

The Los Angeles Lakers “are in advanced discussions to try to bring China star Yi Jianlian back to the NBA,” according to Marc Stein of ESPN. The Lakers currently have 14 players on their roster, one slot below the league maximum of 15, and could create an additional spot should they act on their reported interest in moving on from Nick Young.

Jianlian last played in the NBA in 2012, when he appeared in 30 games and averaged 6.8 minutes per appearance for the Dallas Mavericks. More recently, Jianlian was the third leading scorer at the Olympics with 20.4 points per game. However, his 43.9 percent shooting screams “someone had to score,” especially on an overmatched Chinese National team went 0-5 and failed to make it out of group play (and lost their final game by 44 points).

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:24 am    Post subject:

The Lakers are still trying to trade Nick Young
by Thai Luong - lakersoutsiders.com

The Lakers’ training camp begins in about six weeks, and Nick Young is still on the roster. Yesterday, it was reported that Young has been trying to work on his relationship with D’Angelo Russell. It appears that the two players have moved on from the leaked Snapchat incident last season. According to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report, the Lakers are not so forgiving on Young.

“They have been trying to trade him for a while,” Ding said. “They are still trying to trade him. They are willing to even buy him out if necessary to move on.”

A few years ago, Nick Young had a tremendous season under Mike D’Antoni. In the 2013-14 season, Young averaged 18 points while shooting a decent 38% from deep. Last year was a different story; Young averaged a career-low 7.3 points and shot a mediocre 32% from deep. Young’s struggles last year on the court and his drama with Russell has forced the Lakers to look away from him.

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:25 am    Post subject:

Lakers Legend Elgin Baylor Honored By Pump Foundation (Video)
by lakersnation.com
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 1:05 am    Post subject:

Once the season starts. I petition that Lakers outsiders not be considered news.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 12:14 pm    Post subject:

Why It Might Be Okay To Like The Lakers Again

Quote:
The Lakers are not going to be good in 2016-17, but it won’t be because they’re a catastrophe; it will be because they are young and dumb. Deng, for all his wear and tear, is an excellent and seasoned professional to have around and learn from, and Walton and Mozgov have both been involved in the NBA Finals for the past two seasons. A nice, sturdy shell of emotional stability and reason is building around a collection of dudes who are going to be really fun to watch run and dunk.


http://uproxx.com/dimemag/like-the-lakers-again/
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:25 am    Post subject:

Master’s Degree Candidate Tarik Black Follows in Father’s Real Estate Footsteps

Quote:
In July—the same month he re-signed with the Lakers for two years, $12.85 million after going undrafted in 2014—Black attended the NBPA’s second annual Real Estate Symposium. And this month, he participated in the NBPA’s second annual Business, Entrepreneurship and Franchising Symposium.

Black, 24, was the youngest player by far in both programs. He discussed why he’s already preparing for life after basketball.


http://nbpa.com/masters-degree-candidate-tarik-black-follows-in-fathers-real-estate-footsteps/
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