New Lakers coach Darvin Ham has already secured his first win, Bill Oram of The Athletic contends, by receiving the support of star forward LeBron James, an important first step in his head coaching journey.
“So damn EXCITED!!!!!!!! Congrats and welcome Coach DHam!” James tweeted after word broke on Friday night that Ham is being hired by the Lakers.
The Lakers are coming off a 33-49 season in which they missing the playoffs after dealing with several key injuries to star players. The front office hopes Ham can guide the team back to contention.
There’s more out of the Western Conference tonight:
- Nekias Duncan of Basketball News considers possible trade destinations for Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell. In 65 games this season, Russell averaged 18.1 points, 7.1 assists and 1.0 steals per contest, shooting 41% from the floor and 34% from three-point range. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023.
- Tony Jones of The Athletic continues analyzing the Jazz roster by examining the forwards, taking a closer look at Bojan Bogdanovic and Eric Paschall, among others. Utah is coming off another disappointing postseason, having lost to the Mavericks in six games during the first round.
- The Jazz will work out BYU forward Gideon George on Sunday, Tony Jones tweets. Utah doesn’t own a draft pick this year, but it still plans to hold workouts and conduct its due diligence. The team could acquire a pick or prepare for undrafted players. George averaged 8.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 22.1 minutes last season.
There are two types of mode
Lakers are on championship mode
Warriors are on rebuild mode
Here are the reasons
Lakers are Team Uncles, full of all-time Greats
Warriors are Team Children, full of teenagers
Lakers have no draft picks this year, Warriors have 3 picks. These picks are children.
Lakers have no lottery pick rookie contracts and have no first round pick rookie contracts either.
If I were Moody or Kuminga, I’ll call LeBron, Ariza, Melo and Howard “Uncle” after the game.
The Children are going to play in the nba Finals
The 2 types of mode are Beast & Depeche, that’s common knowledge… Dubs = Beast Mode.. Lakers = Depeche Mode
RIP Andy Fletcher
Mike Conley Jr, Nickeil Alexander-Walker & Utah’s 2026 lotto protected 1st for D’Angelo Russell works pretty smooth for both Utah & Minnesota.. a young Minny squad adds a steady, experienced vet pg in Conley as well as a talented guard that can upgrade their already potential bench attack in NAW. An extra future 1st never hurts either.. Jazz get more backcourt firepower to take some of the play-making weight off Spida’s shoulders. D’Lo/Spida/Royce/Bojan/Rudy is a top3 seed type starting lineup no doubt
I’d keep Conley before doing that. The Jazz need a guard that can…guard someone. As it is Royce is the only decent perimeter defender they have and he’s usually on wings. I’m still hoping Mitchell can be a great defender, he’s kinda small but that reach though.
Coach Bacon & Eggs with Toast was a basic healthy breakfast kind of hard working foreman who had all his teammates hustling and getting it done. This feels right. Lunchpail attitude in the City of Lights Hollywood is how it goes into production.
That Old Detroit tough guts mindset. Bring in the speed and longer defenders that’s mostly already there probably sign Joe Johnson one year veteran minimum. Melo & Johnson with Westbrook dealing, Bron free ranging with AD dominating the high post.
Shades of the Great Jabbar is what AD has to figure out.
Good luck Coach Ham. I believe I will go get me some beer and pulled pork to celebrate.
Those Russell trade deals are the type you see in comment sections. A bunch of spare parts and a bad pick. Russell has his issues but don’t see why the Wolves would just dump him for virtually nothing.
Don’t get Russell at all. Haven’t really watched him in Minny. But I thought he turned the corner in Bklyn. He really played well and handled the media and fans. Seems like he was just playing for that contract. Which is what I always thought of him. Plenty of players with talent but not much ambition. You can’t sign stars who don’t want to be the best. It’s one of worst mistakes a team can make. I’d take Wiggins over Russell any day. TWolves are Russell’s 4th team since being drafted in 2015.
Warriors acquired Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 first round draft pick (top 3 protected), and a 2021 second round draft pick from the Timberwolves in exchange for Jacob Evans III, D’Angelo Russell, and Omari Spellman.
That top 3 protected pick turned into following yr #7 pick (Kuminga).
Does everyone AGREE with Jimmy now.
That trade probably got Rosas fired. Trsding for JarrettCulver too didn’t help. Rosas was so blustery his first year, gonna turn over the roster & save the club.
The r2 pick was Miles McBride.
D.Russell is a great street baller scorer. Too much liability on defense. Or the coaching putting him in that role? I’m sure he fits if in a unique set rotation playing against teams weak on fast break game. But he didn’t get a mentor like Popovich early enough to get a complete game. Plus he needs the ball too much to build good team chemistry to do his thing. Great scorer in one on one though.