LA Lakers

[Guiness]

Brandon Ingram Holds Lakers' Spotlight, but D'Angelo Russell Holds the Future By Kevin Ding , NBA Senior Writer

Jun 24, 2016

 

 

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — This moment belongs to Brandon Ingram.

Eventually, the moment will again belong to the guy who was the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 2 overall pick only a year ago.

After repeated free-agency failures and the decline of the Kobe Bryant era, the Lakers have backed into a very interesting crew of young players whose best-case scenario is developing together.

The key to that scenario is someone to make everybody better, be a unifying force and conduct the orchestra.

Someone just like the D'Angelo Russell praised by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak at this time a year ago: "His ability to understand the game, see the floor, make a play, display leadership characteristics…I think that's his gift."

Russell, 20, is more motivated than ever to prove himself now that most of the world knows him as a "rat" or "snitch" following his embarrassing cellphone recording of Nick Young last season.

Already, Russell is working like crazy toward next season, especially in the weight room. He's a confident kid who is well equipped to deal with adversity, having spent his entire life trying to prove himself to his big brother.

He's also openly yearning to soak up every drop of knowledge and freedom offered by new Lakers coach Luke Walton, inundating Walton with questions about the steps Stephen Curry took in the past two years.

 

 

Russell's insensitivity about his prank gone awry regarding Young's love life is obvious. In what has amounted to an amazing testament to the power of social media today, Russell has been stigmatized for his social transgression. Now he's trying to deflect the attention with a new lighthearted Foot Locker commercial about it.

 

It's easy to forget that Russell's basketball upside is comparable to Ingram's, but that's what can happen when you are marginalized by Byron Scott's tough love and overshadowed by Bryant's farewell season as a rookie.

Ingram will be expected to help immediately, yet it's going to be Russell leading the way for the team.

He has the alpha-male personality and creative passing skills that get him in and out of trouble—and let him command games in ways that Ingram, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson never will.

Ingram knows it from playing against Russell before.

 

"With the young guys that we have, the shooting ability and the passing ability for D'Angelo Russell, and the different things that the Lakers do, I think it's a good fit for me," Ingram said about joining the Lakers.

 

Count Ingram among the small circle of folks who've gotten past the Russell-Young incident. Count young Lakers teammates Randle, Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown among them, too.

 

The six of them sat together and bonded the night of Ingram's June 9 predraft workout with the Lakers. Knowing it was a virtual certainty that Ingram would be his pick, Kupchak shrewdly invited the five Lakers who came from the draft in the previous two years, and the soon-to-be teammates crowded around Ingram at Fleming's Steakhouse while Lakers staffers who'd already dined with Ingram the previous night stepped to the other side of the room.

 

The Lakers also hope they added a true big man to that young crew Thursday in 7'0" Croatian center Ivica Zubac, 19. The team saw him as a lottery talent and pegged him to go in the top 20 before landing him at No. 32. Kupchak even privately likened Zubac to Marc Gasol.

 

Ingram had already impressed the Lakers front office with his seriousness about his craft (including being riveted to Game 3 of the NBA Finals on TV during the first dinner) and willingness to initiate contact on drives to the basket in his workout no matter his rail-thin physique.

 

The Duke forward was the unanimous choice among Lakers decision-makers as the No. 2 pick. The only question was whether the Lakers liked him even better than No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, and there was dispute on that topic—not that it mattered since the Philadelphia 76ers took Simmons.

 

If Ingram had more of an ego and more lust for attention, maybe the debate between him and Simmons would've been waged sooner and wound up going Ingram's way.

 

But Ingram, 18, wasn't as devoted to the AAU scene and showing off in front of basketball opinion-makers when he could more easily get work done alone in the gym.

 

Even though Ingram gave one Kobe-sounding quote when asked about being the first Laker to arrive as Bryant departs—"You kind of feel pressure, but it's a good pressure"—Ingram is not nearly as similar to Bryant in mindset as Russell is.

 

 

Still, Ingram's 6'9" height, length and defensive potential might make him a more valuable talent than Russell.

But that's the point with these Lakers. The era of the dominant individual is past. The future—Kevin Durant daydreams aside—is going to be built on something altogether different than the Kobe Bryant past.

 

The Lakers are counting on free agency next month to upgrade the roster significantly and quickly.

"We'll be searching out some All-Star-caliber players," Walton said.

 

To have such experienced help would sure make the youngsters look a lot better a lot faster.

Even with any glittering additions, a deft, driven Russell might soon be the eye of the new Lakers, and the horizon might finally be visible.

 

 

This is the D'Angelo Russell Footlocker commercial with a light touch on the cell phone recording scandal with Nick Young. He gives advice to Ben Simmons about being an NBA player

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohJckDIpSPQ

Edited June 25, 2016 by hahnz

[azraelmd]

Sad to say...unless russel have a breakout 2017 season...i still think that lakers should have picked okafor...ingram is the future not russel....as of now...im likening russel to brandon jennings...hopefully he could proved me wrong....

 

Maybe thats why russel is involved in alot of trade talks during/before the draft...

[rooster69ph]

Nice draft by the lakers...quite solid picks

[Guiness]

this news doesn't sound good for the Lakers. it seems they're out of the Durant sweepstakes unless something changes with the coming days before free agency starts other teams will have a better chance of signing Durant to their team

 

Report: Lakers, Wizards won't get Kevin Durant meeting Teams are starting to get crossed off of K.D.'s free agency list by Matt Moore

 

The Kevin Durant free-agency situation is evolving and coming into clarity quickly. On Friday night, word surfaced of the initial list of teams expected to meet with Durant, headlined by the hometown Thunder, Warriors and Spurs.

On Saturday, Sam Amick of USA Today, who has covered Durant extensively over the past five years, reported that Durant's original-hometown Wizards and the Los Angeles Lakers will not be getting meetings, while the New York Knicks actually might:

Despite years of speculation about Durant possibly signing with his hometown Washington Wizards or the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of his situation told USA TODAY Sports that those two teams are not expected to land a meeting with the former MVP. As it stands, it's the six aforementioned teams coming Durant's way at a location that has not yet been determined.

The New York Knicks have earned their way onto Durant's radar, having traded for Derrick Rose recently to create quite the combination with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. Yet as of now, it remains to be seen how that particular scenario will be handled. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the situation.

This is a pretty huge report if it turns out to be true. (Of note, these meetings are still evolving and the Lakers and Wizards could still get meetings and the Knicks could fall out quickly.) The Lakers are looking to make major jumps, even with a young core, and not even getting a meeting after so many efforts to sign free agents like Carmelo Anthony and LaMarcus Aldridge over the years would be a bad look. It doesn't effect their long-term outlook, with a great young core in D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle, but it's certainly notable that the mighty Lakers aren't even expected to get a meeting.

For the Wizards, it's the final crushing blow of a widely disappointing year. The Wizards built their summer around making a pitch for Durant to return to D.C. where he grew up, and instead face-planted, losing their defensive identity, winding up missing the playoffs, and frustrating John Wall on multiple levels. The Wizards signed Durant's old coach Scott Brooks, and while trying to sign Scott Brooks wasn't the reason for that hire, it certainly wasn't thought to hurt the situation. Again, being unable to even get a meeting is hugely disappointing.

 

The Knicks, on the other hand, have to be thrilled. They parlayed good, but replaceable parts into Derrick Rose, and while Rose comes with a huge amount of injury risk on the last year of a deal, if it helps get them in the room with Kevin Durant, that alone might be worth the gamble. The Knicks have the ability to clear the decks and stack a traditional "super-team" around Rose, Durant, Anthony and potentially another star center. The depth would be terrible, but you figure that out later. Those teams have struggled in the last few years as more chemistry-driven squads like the Spurs and Warriors have thrived but the big market Knicks, plus established stars (even with the limitations of Rose and Melo) have clearly managed to change Durant's perception about the Knicks.

There's a lot of time between now and when Durant will make his decision sometime in July, but the ride is already getting wild.

 

 

[Totoy Vivo]

Paul George na lang pag asa..

[*badass*]

Paul George na lang pag asa..

is paul george a RFA or UFA?

[Guiness]

i don't know why people are thinking Paul George is a free agent wherein there's no mention of him in the news.

 

i have the list of free agents available for 2016 and Paul George is not on the list: the website for free agents is below

http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2016/

 

 

and according to spotrac. he signed an extension 2 seasons ago for 5 years. The Pacers have him locked up until 2019. unless they engineer a trade with a team.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/indiana-pacers/paul-george/

[rooster69ph]

While KD is on top of the Lakers FA wish list, and I do personally want him in LA. I do feel that it will be a long shot specially that a lot of teams have the money to spend and present a better chance to compete for a championship now. Come to think of it, if KD would be able to get the same $$$ would you not want to just play for a team like the Warriors, the Spurs or even New York instead which have a sold proven core. But then, I guess they lose nothing for trying, right?

 

While the Lakers young core certainly is one of the bright aspect moving forward for this franchise, I think it will take at least 2-3 years to mature and become very competitive. Which is why probably it would be nice to focus on young emerging "superstars" like Whiteside, De Rozan and H. Barnes and at the same time manage their cap space down the road in order that when the time comes (2-3 years down the line) when they are already "competitive" then it would be easier to convince these big names to come and play for this franchise again.

[kind patron]

Whiteside is who they're aggresively pushing for, I believe.

[*kalel*]

So many young bloods... i hope they would get a veteran who is talented enough and can stabilize the team

[tidus10]

yup, i hope they get a starter level big

either horford or whiteside.

wag lang sana si ezeli, he was awful in the playoffs

im thinking lakers could even bring pau gasol back

but i think gasol wants to play for a chance to win a ring

 

i agree with the paul george scenario that he is not a free agent

only way we can get him is via trade, which might cost us ingram plus more

plus pacers just upgraded offensively with teague and young.

[Guiness]

according to news reports that i read, it seems that they are very interested in trying to get Whiteside to sign with them although they have Miami to contend with. Another player that was reported is either getting Jimmy Butler in a trade if the Bulls are willing to play ball and trade him but from what its looking, the Bulls are keen on keeping Butler and building around him.

 

Another player who they are interested in getting is Demar Derozan but Derozan in recent reports stated that he is committed to the Raptors.

 

The Lakers didn't mention showing any interest in Pau Gasol. Gasol is 35 yrs old and at the twilight of his career, he is looking for a win now situation rather than be a Kevin Garnett mentor to young players at this stage of his career.

 

With the recent news of Kevin Durant not granting any interviews with the Lakers it will be extremely difficult to see how the Lakers will have any chance of signing him. At the moment, only 6 teams have been reported being granted access to Durant, OKC Thunder, Spurs, Warriors, Celtics, Heat, La Clippers. Now these teams have their foot in the door already since they can present their plans for Durant and his future if he chooses to sign with them.

 

Lastly, the Paul George trade angle would be a good fit but the Pacers aren't really shopping him.

 

The Lakers are currently faced with a difficult task of landing a free agent although they have a very talented and young team. Right now they are too raw and unpolished. but they are on the right track with drafting and getting young talented pieces. they just need that one or 2 superstar type player like a Lebron, or Durant to take them to the finals

[Guiness]

Lakers prepared for another summer of rejection

Maybe this summer will be different. Maybe this is the one that breaks the spell of the past three and sends superstar free agents stampeding back to Los Angeles for more than just an offseason vacation in Rhode Island-sized Brentwood mansions. Maybe now, finally, NBA A-listers will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, revitalize the league's glamour franchise and carry it to a slew of champagne-soaked Junes.

 

Or, as Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said recently, "It might not be different." With those five words, Kupchak doused expectations of Lakers fans, preparing them instead for a fourth straight summer of rejection, another offseason of nope.

 

Sure enough, the latest free agency bonanza, which kicks off at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday, figures to unfold much like the trio that preceded it: with the Lakers striking out on all their top targets, the biggest fish whom the Lakers once always seemed able to reel in.

But that was before the team hit the darkest stretch in its otherwise rich history, missing the playoffs for three straight seasons (a franchise-long drought); and posting a franchise-record for losses in three straight campaigns (winning only 17 games in 2015-16). Along the way, they were turned down by LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and DeAndre Jordan, and All-Star big men Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard each walked away in free agency to accept less money from other teams.

 

As if the script hasn't been flipped enough, one year after losing Greg Monroe and LaMarcus Aldridge to small markets (Milwaukee and San Antonio, respectively), the Lakers couldn't even get an audience with Kevin Durant, sources told ESPN's Chris Broussard. Meanwhile, Durant has secured sit-downs with other teams, including two of the Lakers' rivals: the Clippers and Boston Celtics.

 

With a projected $60 million to spend thanks to the skyrocketing salary cap, the Lakers can afford two max-level players (compared to only one last summer) and still have several impact players in their sights, including Hassan Whiteside, Al Horford, Nicolas Batum, Harrison Barnes and Ryan Anderson, sources tell Broussard.

 

Even then, none of those players would instantly lift the rebuilding Lakers from the Western Conference cellar. Overall, positives are hard to find, but there is one element of free agency that, at the very least, will be different for the Lakers this season –- their pitch.

"We can focus a little bit more on the basketball side of it, because we have more to sell," Kupchak said.

 

In recent free agent sit-downs, the Lakers, knowing full well that their on-court product was putrid, relied on their television partners and AEG to help produce video presentations that pushed their Hollywood connections, postcard-perfect climate and glorious yesteryear. When the subject turned to basketball, crickets chirped.

 

"We just didn't have that much to sell," Kupchak said.

 

To drive home that point, Kupchak relayed how, generally speaking, the dialogue flowed last summer.

 

"Well, you're going to get to play with Kobe [bryant]," Kupchak said he would tell a prospective free agent, mentioning the ball-dominant icon, who was headed into his 20th and final NBA season.

 

"But Kobe has been injured," Kupchak said the free agent would respond, noting Bryant's three consecutive season-ending injuries. "Is he going to be healthy, Mitch?"

 

"Well, I don't know that."

 

"And then who else am I going to play with?"

 

"Well, you're going to love playing with Julius Randle," Kupchak would say, referencing the bruising power forward, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

 

"But he only played one game," the free agent would respond, a nod to the broken leg that ended Randle's rookie season in the Lakers' opener.

"And then you're going to love playing with the No. 2 pick, who hasn't played at all," Kupchak would say, naming rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell.

 

In short, it's not hard to see why Aldridge complained that his Lakers meeting focused too much on branding and marketing and not enough on his actual day job. And it's hard not to see why the Lakers have struck out year after year after year.

 

But, all things considered, the Lakers believe their position has improved entering this summer, thanks to their deeper pockets and promising young core of Russell, Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and, now, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Duke freshman standout Brandon Ingram.

Beyond that, Bryant's absence allows for a superstar to take the reins of the franchise, a selling point that the Lakers believe is plenty appealing.

 

The particulars of their new pitch will, Kupchak said, "depend on the free agent." In terms of who will deliver it, Kupchak indicated that he, Lakers' executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss and rookie head coach Luke Walton will lead the meetings.

 

Kupchak added that depending on how free agency unfolds, "There may be meetings, there may not be meetings. Things may be done quickly, they may take a week or two. There may not be face-to-face meetings, there may be a couple."

 

So there are unknowns. The Lakers' aforementioned core is composed of players 24 years old or younger. The 36-year-old Walton, an ex-Golden State Warriors assistant, is the NBA's youngest coach. And the Lakers' front office could undergo a massive shake-up a year from now if Buss follows through on his public proclamation that he'll step down if the Lakers don't make a deep run in the 2017 playoffs. (There are rumblings that if Buss leaves, Kupchak could be out the door as well.)

 

While uncertainty looms, the Lakers for now can only focus on tangible progress, even if taking baby steps only amounts to a minimal win increase following the worst record in franchise history. At the moment, the most important goal for a roster built around so much youth is to add veterans.

 

"History tells you that a bunch of young guys on the team is probably not a good thing," Kupchak said. "They look around for leadership or they look around for advice from somebody who's been through this a couple times and if there's nobody to talk to, well, you don't know how to handle the situation.

 

"So I think we will look to add some veteran leadership, and hopefully it's not only leadership but guys who can help us win games. It's unlikely that would come about via trade, although it's possible, but it's more likely that would come about through free agency."

The Lakers and their fans will hold out hope that a franchise-altering player will return the team to relevance, but, at the moment, the more realistic formula for success is developing its fledgling talent, though Kupchak stresses that those players are under no timeline.

 

"I don't think there's a plan in terms of, if it doesn't work a year from now, we're going to break it up," Kupchak said. "Or if we don't win 36 games or 42 games or 48 games [next season], it's over. That's not the plan at all.

 

"I think what we'd like to do is put together a group of players that are growing, that are fun to watch and they improve as the season goes along -- clearly, with the intent to keep the interest of our supporters, our fans, our partners, our season-seat holders. You do have to win games.

 

"That doesn't mean we have to win 40, or 45, or 50. It may not even mean you make the playoffs. I don't know what it's going to take to make the playoffs next year. Maybe you've got to win 48 games to get in in the West. And maybe we win 47. Or maybe we win 37. I don't know.

"But as long as the team is fun to watch, our fans and our partners can see a team that's growing and getting better as the season goes along, I think that's the barometer that's best for us."

[direstraits94]

Whiteside won't meet with the Lakers😔

[Sadmellow]

Ingram (6'9) & Zubac (7'2) quite good picks for Lakers, i think no nid to get Durant now as they can develop Ingram as their wingman(SF).. they need to focus on getting a LEGIT bigman that can protect the rim. Whiteside can be good if they can offer him a good dollars