Mike D’Antoni didn’t exactly endear himself to Lakers fans when he revealed that he was unaware of the draft lottery implications of the team’s game against the Jazz on Monday night, as Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding chronicles. The Lakers are the sixth-worst team in the league, as our Reverse Standings show, but they could have moved into a three-way tie for fourth with a loss. Here’s more on the Lakers and their Pacific Division rivals:
- Wesley Johnson is hopeful of re-signing with the Lakers in the offseason, but it’s not a priority for the club, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. The Lakers are only “lukewarm” about the development of the former No. 4 overall pick, according to Medina.
- Eric Bledsoe‘s performance after returning a month ago from a torn meniscus has only made him more valuable, observes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. The Suns said while he was injured that they would match any offer for him in restricted free agency.
- The Warriors recalled Ognjen Kuzmic and Nemanja Nedovic from the D-League on Monday, the team announced. The rookies helped Golden State’s D-League affiliate sweep the affiliate of the Lakers in the D-League playoffs.
- The middle of the lottery hasn’t been fruitful for the Kings, who shouldn’t wait around for second-tier draft picks to develop, opines Victor Contreras of The Sacramento Bee.