Los Angeles Lakers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Notes: Walton, Ingram, Hawes, Playoffs

March 3rd, 2019 at 9:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Firing coach Luke Walton at this stage of the season would be unnecessary and cruel, Marc Stein of The New York Times opines. A coaching change now wouldn’t improve the Lakers‘ short-team prospects beyond appeasing frustrated fans, Stein continues. It’s generally assumed around league coaching circles that Walton will likely lose his job after the season, followed by the Lakers resuming their trade quest for the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis, Stein adds.

We have more on the struggling Lakers:

Forward Brandon Ingram has been putting up big numbers over the last six games, averaging 27.8 points and 7.5 rebounds, Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register notes. “He’s at the point where he kind of took his destiny in his hands, being more aggressive and being himself,” Suns coach Igor Koskoskov said. “We know he’s a talented player, versatile player.” The club has until opening night next season to reach a contract extension with Ingram, who is still on his rookie deal.
The G League’s South Bay Lakers claimed big man Spencer Hawes off waivers, according to a press release. Hawes last played in the NBA during the 2016/17 season, when he saw action in a combined 54 games for the Hornets and Bucks.
Missing the playoffs would be a complete organizational failure, ESPN’s Zach Lowe argues. Despite the team’s injury issues and the uneasiness in the locker room over the Davis trade talk, there’s no other way to look at LeBron James‘ first season with the Lakers should they fail to make the postseason, Lowe adds.
The Lakers have to keep their minds off the Davis situation to finish the season on a positive note, Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes.

Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Pacific Division

March 3rd, 2019 at 8:15pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we turn our attention to the Pacific Division:

D eMarcus Cousins, Warriors, 28, C (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $5.3MM deal in 2018
Everyone was curious to see how healthy Cousins would look after returning from the Achilles injury and whether he’d fit in with the star-laden Warriors. So far, so good. Other than getting a couple nights off on back-to-backs, Cousins hasn’t had any physical setbacks. He’s settling in as a third or fourth option in the attack, averaging 23.3 PPG over the last three games. He’s also given the Dubs a defensive presence in the middle. Cousins may not find a max deal this summer but he’ll get something close to it from one of the teams with ample cap space.

Garrett Temple, Clippers, 32, SG (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $24MM deal in 2016
The defensive specialist didn’t move the needle as a starter with the Grizzlies and he was dealt to the Clippers just before the trade deadline. Temple is the No. 5 option when he’s on the court but he hasn’t made the most of his limited opportunities, shooting 33.9% from deep after knocking down a career-high 39.2% of his long-distance shots last season in Sacramento. Temple’s age will work against him in the open market. Forget about an $8MM average in his next contract. He’ll be shopping for the veteran’s minimum this time around.

Rajon Rondo, Lakers, 33, PG (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $9MM deal in 2018
A strong argument can be made that Rondo’s decision to sign with the Lakers ruined the season for two franchises. With Rondo at the point, the Pelicans reached the second round of the Western Conference playoffs last season. They wanted him back but he jilted them to join Los Angeles. New Orleans’ season went sour, leading to Anthony Davis‘ trade demand. Rondo has been a poor fit with the Lakers and his PER is a well-below-average 11.7. He’s played heavy minutes during the Lakers’ recent slide, including a 1-for-10, four-assists, two-turnover stinker against Phoenix on Saturday.

Troy Daniels, Suns, 27, SG (Down) — Signed to a three-year, $10MM deal in 2016
Daniels is essentially a one-trick pony and he hasn’t been allowed to perform it as often as he did last season. Daniels, who is playing for his fifth team, has seen his minutes drop to an average of 13.3 per game under first-year coach Igor Kokoskov with quite a few DNPs mixed in. His 3-point shooting hasn’t suffered — his 40% average mirrors what he did last season when he appeared in 79 games and averaged 20.5 MPG. Daniels’ shooting ability should keep him in the league a few more years but he may have to settle for one-year deal or a partially guaranteed two-year contract this summer.

Alec Burks, Kings, 27, SG (Down)– Signed to a four-year, $42MM deal in 2015
Burks was better off playing regularly on a bad team than spot minutes on an improving club in the playoff hunt. Burks flourished with Cleveland after getting dealt by Utah early in the season. He posted averages of 11.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 2.9 APG in 28.8 MPG with the Cavs, who then shipped him to the West Coast in a three-team swap. Burks has done next to nothing with Sacramento, scoring 2.6 PPG in 12.1 MPG through seven games. Burks has only attempted five 3-pointers since the deal and missed all of them. Burks needs a strong finish to reestablish his value in unrestricted free agency.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Central Notes: Bledsoe, Bucks, Porter, Lopez

March 3rd, 2019 at 6:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bucks’ decision to give point guard Eric Bledsoe a four-year, $70MM extension was a sensible move by both parties, Bobby Marks of ESPN argues. It’s a worthwhile price to retain Bledsoe and keep the core group together and that should aid their recruiting pitch to All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo as he approaches free agency in 2021. Bledsoe has become a more efficient player in Milwaukee, particularly in coach Mike Budenholzer’s system. With that order of business out of the way, the Bucks front office can now concentrate on re-signing Khris Middleton and restricted free agent Malcolm Brogdon this summer, Marks adds.

We have more from the Central Division:

The Bucks had a much more sensible plan to build around Antetokounmpo than the Lakers did with LeBron James, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times opines. Milwaukee has a completely different scheme under Budenholzer, surrounding its star with shooters through savvy decisions in free agency and trades. That has opened up driving lanes for Antetokounmpo. Los Angeles’ front office brought in playmakers and ballhandlers around James, Woike notes, which is why the Lakers rank 28th in 3-point shooting.
The Bulls have a much brighter outlook than they did at this time last season, when they went into full tank mode, Matt John of Basketball Insiders notes. The addition of Otto Porter has allowed the Bulls to improve its spacing offensively. Improved health for second-year power forward Lauri Markkanen has also made a difference, as he’s enjoying the best stretch of his young career, John continues. Shooting guard Zach LaVine remains a defensive liability but in a recent eight-game stretch, Chicago was a plus-8.2 with him on the floor, Johns points out. The Bulls will still get a high lottery pick and should continue to be on the upswing, John concludes.
It’s not out of the question that Robin Lopez re-signs with the Bulls, according to Sam Smith of the team’s website. The veteran center is showing his value as an offensive factor due to Wendell Carter Jr.‘s injury. The front office was concerned that Lopez couldn’t be effective switching and getting out to the perimeter defensively, but recently few teams have beaten the Bulls at his position, Smith notes. Lopez will want to test the market but with the team’s frontcourt needs expanding, his return for next season will be under consideration, Smith adds.

Jeanie Buss: Lakers’ Anthony Davis Offer Was “Fake News”

March 2nd, 2019 at 5:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss says reports of what her team offered to the Pelicans in an attempt to land Anthony Davis were exaggerated, tweets Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. Buss addressed the rumors in a speech today at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. She couldn’t mention Davis by name because of tampering rules, but said leaks that the Lakers were willing to trade “our entire roster” for “a certain player” were “fake news.”

A report just before last month’s trade deadline said L.A. was prepared to give up all its young talent, offering Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac and Josh Hart to New Orleans, along with a pair of first-round draft picks.

The denial from Buss meshes with a report yesterday by ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, notes Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll.

“My sources have told me within the last 48 hours that what we’ve heard the Lakers offered may not be true,” MacMullen said in an appearance on “The Jump.” “… I think there’s some question about just how much did they offer. Did they even get a chance to offer anything?”

There were rumors in the week before the deadline that former Pelicans GM Dell Demps was refusing to take calls from the Lakers to give them a chance to talk about Davis, so MacMullan may be right when she speculates that a formal offer was never made.

No one has confirmed which players L.A. would have been willing to part with to acquire Davis, but there have been reports that the trade talk had a negative effect on many of those whose names were mentioned. The Lakers haven’t played well since the deadline, falling into 10th place in the West with a 30-32 record.

L.A.’s trade plans involving Davis should become clearer once the season is over and negotiations can resume. However, the Lakers will find a more competitive playing field, with the Celtics and Knicks expected to become actively involved, along with other teams.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/1/19

March 1st, 2019 at 8:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Lakers recalled rookie wing Isaac Bonga from the G League in advance of Friday’s game against Milwaukee, the team announced (via Twitter). Bonga was held to just three points on 1-of-6 shooting in South Bay’s loss on Thursday.
The Kings have recalled forward Caleb Swanigan from their G League affiliate, according to a press release. Swanigan, acquired in a deadline deal last month, has yet to appear in a game for Sacramento, having instead earned playing time for the Stockton Kings.
After posting a double-double (23 points, 10 rebounds) in a triple-overtime win for the Greensboro Swarm on Thursday, Dwayne Bacon was recalled from the G League today by the Hornets, the team announced in a press release.
The Spurs have recalled rookie Chimezie Metu from the G League, per an announcement from the club. Metu played for the Austin Spurs on Thursday, recording 15 points and 10 boards off the bench.
Rookie shooting guard Melvin Frazier was recalled from the G League by the Magic, the team announced (via Twitter). Frazier has appeared in 16 games for Orlando’s affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, this season, most recently posting 14 points, eight rebounds, and four steals for the squad on Tuesday.
The Jazz recalled little-used second-year center Tony Bradley from the Salt Lake City Stars today, according to the team. The 2017 first-round pick has appeared in just one game for Utah this season.

Pacific Notes: Ball, Jackson, Brewer, Rondo

February 28th, 2019 at 10:47pm CST by JD Shaw

Lakers guard Lonzo Ball will miss at least one more week of action with his sprained ankle, the team announced on Thursday.

Ball underwent additional examination this week, with team physicians determining that he’ll need more rest due to a bone bruise related to the ankle injury. He’s missed the team’s last 14 games, with the Lakers holding a 5-9 record during that stretch.

“We obviously miss another ball handler, another playmaker,” teammate LeBron James said recently of Ball, as relayed by ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “A guy that’s very, very good defensively. With his ability to get a steal and pressure the offensive point guard and then push the pace for us, get into our early offense. So we miss that a lot.”

The Lakers are currently three games behind the No. 8 seed Clippers with 21 contests remaining. Los Angeles has often looked to veteran point guard Rajon Rondo in Ball’s absence, but the team’s need for another ball-handler has been clear over the past month.

There’s more from the Pacific Division tonight:

Suns forward Josh Jackson was fined $20K by the organization today, according to Gina Mizell of The Athletic (Twitter link). Jackson failed to show up at a team meet-and-greet autograph session on Wednesday, causing the team to discipline him for his actions.
Veteran forward Corey Brewer appears to have found a home with the Kings, with the 32-year-old explaining that Sacramento is his top option right now. “This is option No. 1 right now,” Brewer said, as relayed by Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “I like it here. I love it here. I’m having a great time.” Brewer signed a rest-of-season contract with the Kings today after inking a pair of 10-day deals.
Lakers guard Rajon Rondo met with head coach Luke Walton before the team’s win against New Orleans on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. Rondo and Walton held a long one-on-one discussion to explore how the team can get back on track, leading to Rondo starting in the victory with Lonzo Ball still out. “It was an honest conversation,” Walton said. “It was healthy and positive.”

Lakers Notes: LeBron, Ball, Open Roster Spot

February 26th, 2019 at 12:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers‘ push for a playoff spot took another step back on Monday night, as LeBron James‘ squad dropped a 110-105 decision to the Grizzlies in Memphis. The loss dropped the Lakers’ record to 29-31, putting them two games behind the Kings for ninth place in the West, and three games behind the No. 8 Spurs.

After the game, James was asked if the pressure of living up to expectations for the 2018/19 season and earning a spot in the postseason was becoming a distraction for the Lakers, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com relays.

“At this point if you are still allowing distractions to affect how the way you play, then this is the wrong franchise to be a part of and you should just come and be like, ‘Listen, I don’t [think this is for me]. I cannot do this,'” James said. “Like, seriously, if you’re distracted by playoff pushes out of all the stuff that’s been talked about this year, nah. Just come and do your job. We do our job at a high level and that’s not a distraction. That’s what you want. … You want to feel like you’re fighting for something.”

While LeBron’s comments could be construed as veiled criticism of some of his teammates, Bill Oram of The Athletic, who posed the question to James, didn’t interpret them that way. In Oram’s view (Twitter link), James was rejecting the notion that the playoff push was a distraction, rather than calling out any of his teammates for being distracted.

Here’s more out of Los Angeles on the Lakers:

Lakers head coach Luke Walton said on Monday that there’s still no timeline for Lonzo Ball‘s return to the lineup, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Ball has been sidelined since January 19 due to a left ankle sprain and bone bruise.
The Lakers continue to consider potential options for the open spot on their 15-man roster, Turner notes in the same article, citing sources who say the team wouldn’t mind acquiring another big man. Walton indicated that he has spoken to the front office about possible targets. “I’ve had conversations with them about a lot of things, but they’re looking to see how they can help improve the team with that last spot,” Walton said. “But no decision from what I’ve been told so far on what that’ll be.”
For all of the latest news and rumors on the Lakers, be sure to check out their team page right here.

LeBron James Talks Lakers’ Struggles, Camaraderie, Injuries

February 24th, 2019 at 9:26pm CST by marksuleymanov

At 29-30, the Lakers occupy 10th place in the Western Conference, three games back of the Clippers for the eighth seed. Injuries and inconsistencies have dampened the organization’s hope to end a postseason drought that has persisted since 2013.

Following a 128-115 blowout loss to the Anthony Davis-less Pelicans on Saturday, those hopes took another blow. After publicly stating he has “activated” playoff mode to ensure his new team does not miss the playoffs, LeBron James has now openly questioned his team’s effort. James has played in eight straight NBA Finals and reached the series nine times in the last 12 seasons.

However, the most serious injury of his career — a groin strain that sidelined him for over a month — also played a role in the team’s decline. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, James weighed in on the team and how the reality of the year has evolved, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.

On expecting the season to be a challenge…

“I knew it was going to be very challenging, just because of the [limited] experience the roster had at that point and time. I knew it was going to be challenging from that sense, but I felt like we could still play better basketball. And we were doing that and obviously it sucks that my injury happened and (Lonzo Ball)’s injury happened and so many of our injuries happened. And we had suspensions in there.”

On injuries impacting the season thus far…

“So, I’m huge on chemistry and camaraderie … but the injuries have felt like it’s taken a toll on our team. So hopefully we can get ‘Zo back soon to kind of help that out. And hopefully we can start playing a little bit better too.”

On needing to overcome challenges…

“It’s how you approach the game every day. It’s how you think the game every day. It’s how you play the game. It’s how you prepare for the game. And it’s not even like when you get to the arena. It’s like way before that. It’s like, basketball, is that the most important thing while we’re doing this? Is it the most important thing in your life at this time? If you feel like you’re giving it all to the game, then you can do other things. But if you feel like you’re not giving as much as you can, then you can’t focus on anything else. That’s just … my personal take.”

Lonzo Ball May Miss Extended Stretch With Bone Bruise

February 23rd, 2019 at 12:25pm CST by marksuleymanov

Lonzo Ball has been sidelined since Jan. 19 when he suffered a sprained left ankle and his absence may be extended due to a bone bruise in the same ankle, Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times reports.

While Ball’s initial rehab progressed swiftly, the setback of the bone bruise has limited the Lakers‘ point guard. As Ganguli notes, Ball’s absence through 11 games has been noticeable, especially on defense. Los Angeles has permitted an average of 123 PPG to teams during Ball’s injury.

In 47 games, Ball averaged 9.9 PPG, 5.4 APG and 5.3 RPG — all of which were down from his rookie season. However, the UCLA product showed improved shooting, evidenced by his 40.6% from the field and 32.9% from beyond the arc.

The Lakers began the second half with a come-from-behind win over the Rockets Thursday. If Ball’s absence stretches beyond the four-to-six week initial estimate, the Lakers will need to rely heavily on veteran Rajon Rondo. The Lakers (29-29) are currently three games back of the Clippers (33-27) for the eight seed in the Western Conference.

Community Shootaround: Lakers’ Playoff Hopes

February 22nd, 2019 at 8:25pm CST by Dana Gauruder

LeBron James finds himself in a very unusual place — on the outside looking in at a playoff berth.

James’ streak as an annual presence in the NBA Finals was bound to end when he signed with the Lakers last summer. He realized at the time he’d need at least one more superstar to make the storied franchise the Best of the West again. But there was a general sense that any team led by James would at least reach the postseason.

James told reporters after returning from the All-Star break that he’ll go all out to prevent the embarrassment of missing the playoffs.

“It’s been activated,” James said of his playoff mindset. “My level of intensity has to be [high], unfortunately for me, because I don’t like to do it at such an early time. But it’s been activated.”

The Lakers returned to the .500 mark with a comeback victory over the Rockets on Thursday night but they have plenty of work to do to secure a playoff berth. They currently have the 10th-best record in the West and trail the Clippers by 2 1/2 games for the final spot.

The Jazz and Spurs are just one game ahead of the Clippers.

The Lakers will also have to leapfrog the young and much improved Kings, who hold a one-game edge. The Clippers’ decision to trade away leading scorer and impending free agent Tobias Harris helps the Lakers. But the way super sixth man Lou Williams is playing, coupled with some impressive young talent, the Clippers aren’t guaranteed to fade away.

The internal turmoil caused by the Lakers’ quest to secure Anthony Davis before the trade deadline made for some uneasiness in the locker room. Many of their young players must wonder how long they’ll last in L.A.

Yet if James doesn’t have any setbacks from the groin injury that cost him over a month of action, there’s reason for optimism that the Lakers will move into the top eight in the West.

That leads us to our question of the day: Will the Lakers make the playoffs? If so, will they wind up with the No. 8 seed or finish higher than that?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.