Los Angeles Lakers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

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.

David Griffin Talks LeBron James, Cavs, Lakers

February 22nd, 2019 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

David Griffin‘s name continues to surface when teams around the NBA make front office changes, as he was most recently identified as a potential target for the Pelicans. For now though, Griffin remains without an NBA job, allowing the former Cavaliers general manager to freely share his thoughts on teams around the league.

Griffin did just that in a conversation with Michael Shapiro of SI.com, revisiting his days in Cleveland and weighing in on the challenges facing Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, who are now the ones tasked with building a title contender around LeBron James.

Griffin made several interesting comments in the Q&A, which is worth checking out in full. Here are some of the highlights from the former Cavs GM:

On the pressure of being the GM for a team with LeBron on its roster:

“It’s not just the pressure with LeBron, it’s that the only mark of success each year was winning a championship. … It was like you’re taking care of the legacy of Babe Ruth. Nobody knows who his general manager was, and nobody really knows if that general manager was successful or not. But because the Yankees won as many championships as they did, Ruth and [Lou] Gehrig and those guys’ legacies are what they are. It was something we felt responsible for. This is the greatest player of his generation, and if you’re not delivering championships, you’re failing.”

On the idea that LeBron was the “shadow GM” in Cleveland (and now in Los Angeles):

“It’s just an asinine assertion that he was a shadow GM. LeBron was one of many people on the team who we talked to, it just so happens he’s a basketball savant. You wouldn’t be doing your job if you didn’t talk to him about the pieces you might want to bring to the franchise. And he’s going to be an alpha leader in the locker room, and if he feels comfortable with certain players you’re bringing in, his opinion matters.

“… The ‘LeBron is the GM, all-powerful, in charge of the franchise’ idea is, to me, preposterous. Now, I’m not in Los Angeles, I don’t experience anything they’re going through, but in my experience, I see a lot of the same nonsense from the media. If you are leading LeBron and you are leading your team, you’re getting incredible input from him because you asked for it.”

On what the Lakers should aim to do with their roster around LeBron this offseason:

“I think way too much is put into the idea that you have max cap space for two max players, and therefore you must land the plane on key free agents. I don’t think that’s the case, and I don’t think you need to land the plane of Anthony Davis. You need to maximize your asset value all the time, and no harm befalls you as long as you don’t use that space poorly. So it doesn’t have to have a name attached to it, their next asset doesn’t have to be Anthony Davis. If they remain flexible they’ll be able to accumulate the right assets for the good of the franchise.”

Northwest Notes: Kanter, Morris, Exum, Lillard

February 21st, 2019 at 10:55pm CST by JD Shaw

Enes Kanter‘s decision in free agency came down to two teams: the Trail Blazers and Lakers. Kanter, of course, chose to join the Blazers less than two weeks after being waived by the Knicks, labeling one major reason why he made his choice.

“I think it’s just the culture,” Kanter said, according to Casey Holdahl of NBA.com. “After I got released from the Knicks I got a lot of offers but I just wanted to wait. After (Blazers president of basketball operations) Neil (Olshey) talked to me, I was like ‘You know what, I think Portland is the team that I want to go to because I already know their good culture from four years ago when they offered be the contract.’ I think it’s the best decision for me. Then Dame (Lillard) texted me and I was like, ‘You know what, this is the best place that I can (be).’ Be with the team and go far.”

Kanter, a bruising center who holds career-averages of 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, is expected to provide depth off Portland’s bench as the postseason nears. He has an opportunity to prove his worth on a competitive team ahead of free agency, joining the Blazers as a locker room leader and veteran presence.

“It’s amazing, like a first year of school,” Kanter said. “I was actually nervous but I think they help me a lot. Amazing locker (room). From the first moment that I stepped in everybody was trying to help, talking to me about lots of stuff. It’s become very easy, I feel like I’ve been a part of this team for a long time from the first day.”

There’s more from the Northwest Division tonight:

New Thunder forward Markieff Morris was cleared two weeks ago and is “feeling great,” Royce Young of ESPN tweets. Morris officially signed with Oklahoma City this week, having being diagnosed with transient cervical neuropraxia in his neck early last month.
Dante Exum participated in his first practice with the Jazz on Thursday since suffering a left ankle sprain in January, Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News writes. “It was great,” teammate Rudy Gobert said about seeing Exum in practice, according to Woodyard. “I think when he’s playing well, he can have a big impact for us and having him back soon is going to help us a lot.” Exum was re-evaluated by the team and ruled out for Friday’s game against Oklahoma City, though his return date doesn’t appear to be far off. He’s missed 17 straight games with the injury.
Blazers star Damian Lillard explained why he’s stayed with the team throughout his career, appearing on the Posted Up podcast with Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes this week. “I’m not willing to sell myself out for championships,” Lillard said. Lillard, drafted by Portland in 2012 with the No. 6 overall pick, is currently in his seventh season with the franchise.

Examining How Lakers Could Use Open Roster Spot; Free Agent Targets

February 21st, 2019 at 6:26pm CST by JD Shaw

The Lakers need to do their best to pair LeBron James with a superstar free agent talent this summer, Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes. Players such as Durant, Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will reach free agency on July 1, while Pelicans star Anthony Davis is expected to become available via trade.
The Lakers have several different free-agent talents to choose from in the coming weeks with their open roster spot, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report writes. Los Angeles has been linked to Carmelo Anthony, who last played on November 8, ever since LeBron James publicly approved of the idea to add him. “I think it would be great to have Carmelo Anthony be on the Lakers,” James told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols in December. “I believe Melo can still play the game.”

Stein’s Latest: Antetokounmpo, Vucevic, Lakers

February 19th, 2019 at 10:00pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Plenty of teams are hoping for the chance to sign Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Warriors, in particular, have thought about pairing him and Stephen Curry should Kevin Durant leave in free agency, Marc Stein of the New York Times writes in his latest newsletter.

Antetokounmpo would have his pick of suitors on an open market, but as Stein notes, the Greek Freak may never make it to free agency. Antetokounmpo loves Milwaukee and the Bucks have to feel they have a chance at getting him to sign a super-max extension with the team during the summer of 2020—a year prior to him hitting the open market.

Yet, the Warriors will always swing big if given just the tiniest of chances. Antetokounmpo and Curry have selected one another first overall in back-to-back All-Star drafts and the two share a mutual admiration for each other, Stein notes.

Stein, who was honored over the weekend by the Basketball Hall of Fame as a Curt Gowdy Media award recipient, has more in his latest newsletter. Here are some highlights:

The Mavericks‘ interest in Nikola Vucevic may be overstated, Stein hears, adding that he doesn’t get the sense that Dallas will pursue the big man. The Mavs were rumored to have interest in Vucevic as a free agent target this summer.
The Lakers have the ninth-hardest remaining schedule and a playoff birth is no guarantee. “It’s going to be tough, but we shouldn’t want it any other way,” LeBron James said. “I look forward to the challenge — and I’m getting healthy, too.”
Charles Barkley wonders if the advent of super teams will prompt small market owners to try to take back control in future CBA talks. “I hear all these clowns on TV talking about, ‘It’s great that all these players are exuding these powers,’” Barkley told a small group of reporters prior to All-Star weekend. “Let me tell you guys something: Workers ain’t never going to have power over their ownership. Ever. Now it might work for a couple guys here or there, but in the history of the world, no workers have ever overtaken the people who own a business. And when these guys are sitting at home locked out in a couple years, I want y’all to remember I told y’all that.”

Some Concerns Linger Over LeBron's Health

February 18th, 2019 at 8:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Lakers are privately a little concerned about LeBron James‘ health, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. They’re not quite sure he’s fully healed from the groin injury that cost him 18 games, as he’s not moving at the same speed, nor engaging at the point of attack, Vardon continues. However, James denies he’s aching. “I feel great,” he said. “Looking forward to the second half of the season. Looking forward to seeing what we can do to get back in this playoff race. That’s my only mindset.”

And-Ones: Keene, LeBron, Zion, Africa League, Tampering

February 17th, 2019 at 2:28pm CST by JD Shaw

The Memphis Hustle have bought out the contract of Marcus Keene, allowing Keene to sign overseas in South Korea with the Jeonju KCC Egis, a source told Hoops Rumors.

Keene traveled to South Korea on Sunday to join the team, a source said.

Keene, a former Central Michigan standout, averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game in 25 contests with the Hustle this season. He went undrafted in 2017 despite being the NCAA Division l scoring leader with Central Michigan, tallying an impressive 30 points per game.

The Jeonju KCC Egis play in the Korean Basketball League, which holds its regular season from October to April. It consists of 10 different teams that play 53 games each.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

LeBron James lauded the overall game of Duke prospect Zion Williamson, praising him for his insane athleticism and quickness at his size, as relayed by Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. “What strikes me? His agility and his quickness,” James said. “For his size, how strong he is, to be able to move like the way he moves, he’s very impressive. I mean, everybody can see the athleticism. That’s obviously, that’s ridiculous. But the speed and the quickness that he moves [with] at that size is very impressive.” James traveled to see Williamson play against the University of Virginia last week, insisting to the media that the trip wasn’t for recruiting.
The NBA and FIBA have announced plans to bring a new professional basketball league to Africa. The Basketball Africa League, which is set to have 12 unnamed teams in the competition, is expected to begin play in January of 2020. “As we’ve been talking about this concept over the last several months, there’s been a tremendous reception from several of our NBA team owners,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “Several of our partners have also expressed an interest to work with us in Africa.” Former President Barack Obama is also expected to have a hands-on role with the league, though the specifics of his job have yet to be determined. This will mark the first time the NBA has ever been involved with a professional basketball league outside of North America.
NBA tampering and agent behavior are two deeply intertwined problems today, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes. The representative for Anthony Davis, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, publicly announced that his client requested a trade from the Pelicans last month, causing a stir for some within the organization. Adam Silver has labeled the importance of tampering being held to a strict control, though Davis’ public trade request resulted in a tampering fine for Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and prompted some observers to question whether the Lakers were tampering with Davis’ group.

L.A. Notes: Harris, Expiring Contracts, Magic Johnson

February 17th, 2019 at 10:25am CST by Arthur Hill

The Clippers acknowledge the decision to trade away Tobias Harris was difficult, but they believe it was necessary to build the perennial title contender they envision, writes Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times. Harris was sent to the Sixers last week in exchange for some assets — rookie guard Landry Shamet and a package of draft picks — that could be used to acquire another star, possibly Pelicans center Anthony Davis. They also hope to open enough cap space for two max offers in free agency with an eye on building the NBA’s next super team.

“I mean, it really stinks because you love the guy and what he means to the team,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said about losing Harris. “But what you have to do, you have to fast-forward and close your eyes and visualize. In order to build a sustainable championship contender, there are going to have to be some really hard and tough decisions to be made.”

Owner Steve Ballmer has instructed Frank and team consultant Jerry West to build for the future without sacrificing this season. The Clippers entered the All-Star break eighth in the West at 32-27 and remain confident they can make the playoffs without Harris.

There’s more news from Los Angeles:

The Clippers were active at the trade deadline, but because they brought in so many players with expiring contracts, another roster shakeup is likely in the offseason, notes Dan Feldman of NBC Sports. Ivica Zubac, JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple and Wilson Chandler all have expiring contracts and may not return next season, depending how successful the organization is in free agency.
Lakers president Magic Johnson believes the NBA has a different tampering standard for him than the rest of the league. In a video clip tweeted by Carolina Blitz, Johnson refuses to comment about the possibility of signing Kemba Walker this summer. “You know I can’t answer any questions about no players because every time I do it, I get fined, but anybody else do it, they don’t get fined, so I’m going to stay away from that,” Johnson said.
In the wake of their failed attempt to land Davis, the Lakers have a leadership gap that has to be addressed by Johnson, GM Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss and LeBron James, writes Andy Kamenetzky of The Athletic.