March 2013 Los Angeles Lakers Wiretap

Bryant Has 'No Idea' Of Anthony's Free Agency Plans

Oct 30, 2013 12:07 AM

Kobe Bryant was asked on Tuesday whether he has spoken to Carmelo Anthony about the New York Knicks star's upcoming free agency next offseason.

"He's in New York. I'm in L.A.," Bryant said. "I have no idea what he is going to do or what he is thinking about."

Bryant and Anthony are good friends.

Anthony has jokingly talked about the Los Angeles Lakers' name in questions surrounding his free agency.

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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D'Antoni: Politics Made Offense Prefer Dwight Over Gasol Last Season

Oct 29, 2013 12:50 AM

Mike D'Antoni did not enjoy marginalizing Pau Gasol in an attempt to placate Dwight Howard last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

"It was very uncomfortable," D'Antoni said. "I knew I was messing on (Gasol) last year. That's not fair to him. But that was the situation we were in. How do we make the best of it? I was just trying to make the best of it. But no, it wasn't fair to him.

"I think it was all (politics). It was all that. We wouldn't do that (normally). If nobody had names on their jerseys, and we were just playing? You go through Pau. There's not a question. No question."

With Kobe Bryant coming back from a torn Achilles, the Lakers will give Gasol a huge opportunity on offense.

"It was hard to be in that position," Gasol said. "I understood the politics of it, and why things were a certain way, but it didn't make it any easier during the process.

"But you learn and move on and you grow, and you go to the next chapter. I'm excited about my new position. It's a different situation, a different team. I'm happy and proud to continue to be here, despite everything. I'm ready to play and have a great year."

Sam Amick/USA Today

Tags: Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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B.J. Young Signing With Rockets' D-League Team After Interest From Lakers, 76ers

Oct 28, 2013 7:13 PM

Free agent guard B.J. Young – a recent release of the Rockets – will sign a deal with Houston’s D-League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a league source told RealGM.

Young was released by the Rockets early in training camp, but the former Arkansas standout received interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadlephia 76ers before deciding to join the Rockets’ burgeoning pipeline of young talent, a league source said.

Daryl Morey has stockpiled several talented players to place into the Rockets’ developmental system, which will also include the recently waived Troy Daniels.

After averaging over 15 points and three assists in his sophomore season at the Unviersity of Arkansas, Young, 20, went undrafted in June’s NBA draft.

Young played for the Rockets in summer league, displaying moments of explosiveness averaging nearly 12 points on 51.6 percent shooting and two assists.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: B.J. Young, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams, D-League Signing Rumor, D-League Misc Rumor

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Lakers Expect To Sign Extension With Kobe Bryant Before His Free Agency

Oct 26, 2013 1:41 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers have started negotiations with Kobe Bryant's agent on a contract extension and fully plan to reach a new deal prior to the All-Star becoming a free agent next offseason

"I want to put an end to any speculation that we would allow Kobe to become a free agent," Jim Buss said. "That's not going to happen. Kobe is a top priority for us. He's a Laker legend and always will be. I don't think we're done winning championships with him yet.

"[Lakers general manager] Mitch Kupchak and [Bryant's agent] Rob Pelinka have been talking, but with him being hurt, it has slowed the process some. I don't know when it'll get done, but I have faith in Rob and Mitch to work things out."

Bryant has said he fully intends to retire with the Lakers and would be open to a deal before his free agency in July, 2014.

The Lakers currently have just three players (Steve Nash, Nick Young and Robert Sacre) under contract for next season.

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Marcus Landry Released By Lakers

Oct 26, 2013 1:35 AM

Marcus Landry was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers after Friday's preseason finale, the team announced.

Landry averaged four points and one rebound in six preseason games for the Lakers.

The Lakers' roster is now at 15 players.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Marcus Landry, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Waiver

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Nash: Vince Carter's Impact On Canadian Basketball Has Been Underestimated

Oct 22, 2013 10:07 PM

Steve Nash is general manager of the Canadian national basketball team and recently wrote a special piece on ESPN about the very promising state of the country's basketball talent.

Anthony Bennett was the first overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, joining fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Andrew Wiggins, meanwhile, is the most highly celebrated player coming out of high school since LeBron James in 2003.

Nash was raised in British Columbia.

"Right now interest and participation in the game in Canada is at an all-time high. While my friends and I grew up watching the NBA like a lot of Canadians, the arrival of the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies brought the NBA and the game of basketball into more households across the country exponentially and with a new intimacy. The sport's visibility exploded, and with it so did interest, excitement and participation.

"For six and a half years, much of Canada's young talent watched and fell in love with a flamboyant, human highlight film named Vince Carter. He inspired them nightly while playing for the home team Raptors. I think Vince's presence in our country shouldn't be underestimated. His charisma was incredibly powerful in attracting a Canadian audience to the game of basketball for a memorable period of time. More and more kids play basketball every year in Canada, and I think the NBA's arrival played a pivotal role in the game's growth."

Nash also credits the Internet to reaching Canadians interested in basketball.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Vince Carter, Steve Nash, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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D'Antoni Has No Idea When Kobe Will Begin Practicing

Oct 21, 2013 1:02 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers will begin the regular season in 10 days and Mike D'Antoni is unsure of when Kobe Bryant will begin practicing.

Bryant is recovering from a torn Achilles.

“I have no idea,” said D'Antoni.

“He has a big desire to come back, but he understands there has to be a few steps he needs to take in order to come back,” Pau Gasol said. “I don’t think he’s taken those steps. Let the rehab and progress develop on its own. He’ll come back when he’s going to come back, whether it’s a week, two weeks, one month, two months, who knows.”

Mark Medina/Los Angeles Daily News

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Clippers Replace Lakers' Title Banners For Home Games At Staples Center

Oct 19, 2013 2:07 AM

None of the Los Angeles Lakers' banners -- championship, retired or special ones -- will be displayed by the Los Angeles Clippers when they play home games at Staples Center this season.

Making their exhibition debut for the 2013-14 season on Friday, seven oversized Clippers banners hide every bit of the Lakers' storied history.

From left to right, banners of Jamal Crawford, Blake Griffin, J.J. Redick, DeAndre Jordan, Jared Dudley, Chris Paul and Matt Barnes overlook the arena.

The Clippers are poised to win the Pacific Divison this season.

Eric Pincus/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

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Dwight Inspired By 'You Have To Endure' From 'The Dark Knight Rises' In Leaving Lakers

Oct 18, 2013 1:51 PM

Dwight Howard attempted to develop a Superman persona early in his career with the Orlando Magic, but he drew from 'The Dark Knight Rises' in his decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets.

"I actually wrote (them) down and can tell it to you — it's from Batman," Howard tells USA TODAY Sports. "Batman and Alfred were having a discussion, and Batman didn't like what was going on and he felt like the best thing he could do was just hide.

"Alfred told him, 'You have to endure it. You have to take it. People will hate you for it, but that's the point of being a legend. You can be that outcast. You can make the choice that no one else can make, and that's the right choice.' "

The Rockets were able to provide a situation for Howard with a core of players closer to him in age and also may be even closer to competing for a title.

"I kind of took that with me in this situation in L.A.," he continues. "It was hard, something that most people wouldn't have done, because they're looking at the whole situation and people are going to think that I'm running (from the pressure), and people are going to think this or that.

"But I'm like, 'Man, I want to be this legend, I want to be at the top. So I have to endure all that hate, all that criticism. I have to take it, and that's what's going to make me the person and the player I am.' "

Sam Amick/USA Today

Tags: Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Darius Johnson-Odom Waived By Lakers

Oct 16, 2013 11:10 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Darius Johnson-Odom.

Jonson-Odom was selected by the Lakers in the 2012 NBA Draft and was cut before the 12-13 season.

Johnson-Odom made three preseason appearances this season with the Lakers.

Eric Pincus/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Darius Johnson-Odom, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Waiver

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Departure From Orlando Taught Dwight To Do What's Best For Dwight In Free Agency

Josh Robbins/Orlando Sentinel

Lakers Reach Out To Lamar Odom

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Kobe Bryant Could 'Probably' Play Now If It Were Playoffs

Kevin Ding/Bleacher Report

Pau Gasol Unlikely To Accept Huge Pay Cut To Help Lakers' 2014 Cap

Mark Medina/Los Angeles Daily News

D'Antoni Expects Nash To Miss Time 'Off And On The Whole Year'

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Magic Johnson Leaves ESPN

RealGM Staff Report

Kobe Bryant Keeping Open Timetable For Return

Mike Bresnahan/Los Angeles Times

Lakers Release Eric Boateng, Dan Gadzuric

RealGM Staff Report

Kobe's Knee Procedure Was Preventative

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Wesley Johnson Day-To-Day With Strained Tendon In Foot

RealGM Staff Report

Hill: Lakers Started 'Blaming Others' During Winless Preseason In 12-13

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Kobe Leaves Country To Undergo Medical Procedure

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Doubts Kobe Bryant Will Return As Same Player

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

D'Antoni Appears To Be Focusing More On Defense

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Nash Predicts Beginning Of Season To Thanksgiving Return For Kobe

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports