Ramon Sessions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Ramon Sessions Talks Option, Lakers, Future

May 28th, 2012 at 12:51pm CST by Luke Adams

With the Lakers out of the playoffs and done with exit interviews, Ramon Sessions finally has some time to focus on his future. The point guard talked to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld about a number of topics, including his 2012/13 option, playing for the Lakers, and his reaction to the trade that sent him to L.A. Here are some highlights from the conversation:

On his $4.55MM player option for 2012/13:

"It’s something that I haven’t thought about, but it’s definitely something that I have to start thinking about in the next few weeks. I have to make a decision by June 20th. It’s one of those things where I’m just going to sit down and look at everything. I’m going to really evaluate the situation and see what’s out there before I decide whether I’m going to opt out or opt in. It’s not a decision I’ve made yet."

On whether he wants to remain a Laker:

"Oh yeah, definitely. Talking to [GM] Mitch [Kupchak] before I left, they definitely want me back and I’d love to come back. This is a first-class organization. There are banners all over the gym and there’s a lot of history here. From the top to the bottom, everything was great. They’re first class all around.

On essentially replacing Derek Fisher in Los Angeles:

"When I found out about the trade, I didn’t know who was involved, but I knew that Fish wasn’t in the trade. I was thinking they were going to bring me in to back up Fish. Then, when they traded him, I was just thinking, ‘Man, they’re opening the door for me to run the show.’ It was a dream come true."

On the adjustment to playing with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers:

"It was difficult to come in being the new guy and also the young guy when you have Kobe, [Andrew] Bynum, Pau [Gasol] and Metta [World Peace], guys who want the ball, and it’s your job to get them the ball. You have to know where they want it, know all of the plays, know where everyone is supposed to be at all times and also try to get your own. It was definitely a challenge, but it’ll definitely make me a better player next year. I learned a lot from this whole transition…. I think having a full season with the guys, things would be different. It kind of felt like I was rushed, playing and trying to do this or do that. With a full season, I think the sky is the limit for us."

Lakers Talk Offseason, To Pick Up Bynum’s Option

May 23rd, 2012 at 7:56pm CST by Alex Lee

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told reporters on Wednesday that the Lakers plan to pick up center Andrew Bynum's team option for next season. This move would not have an impact on the much-speculated swap of Bynum for Dwight Howard, as they would have to pick up his option before making the move. Kupchak's statement was part of the Lakers' 2012 exit interview process today, as documented by Mike Trudell on Lakers.com. Many players brought up the much talked about issue of the offense stalling when Kobe goes into "one-on-one" mode, while others discussed their future with the team:

Pau Gasol said that he met with Kupchak and Mike Brown and they didn't offer him any insight as to the organizations' plans for Gasol this offseason. Gasol reiterated that the trade rumors shouldn't alter a player's game, but admitted that his change in role, many times deferring to Andrew Bynum as the second option, may have affected his production.
Metta World Peace doesn't think the Lakers need radical change, even stating that they should be up 3 games to 2 on the Thunder right now, says Andy Kamenetzky of ESPN LA. Artest extolled Mitch Kupchak and says it is up to the players to pick up their game to help Kobe Bryant. Kamenetzky adds that there is speculation that Artest or Steve Blake could be trade candidates, but Artest said he loves it in Los Angeles.
Kupchak offered information beyond their intentions for Bynum. In his talk with media, Kupchak discussed the failed preseason trade for Chris Paul, Gasol's resulting play, the looming opt-out decision of Ramon Sessions and more.

Latest On Ramon Sessions

May 22nd, 2012 at 5:13pm CST by Sean Highkin

The Los Angeles Lakers held their exit interviews today following last night's elimination from the playoffs. Lakers.com's Mike Trudell has details (links to all tweets) of guard Ramon Sessions' interview, which touched on his upcoming player option and future with the Lakers.

Sessions, acquired from the Cavaliers in March, said he hopes to remain with the Lakers, and that the team has expressed interest in bringing him back as well. Sessions has a player option for the 2012/13 season worth approximately $4.5MM, which he must decide on by June 20. He says he has not made a decision.

Lakers Rumors: Bynum, Brown, Sessions, Gasol

May 22nd, 2012 at 8:27am CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals last night, sending the Lakers to their second consecutive second-round exit. Despite the loss, Kobe Bryant vowed after the game that L.A. would be back in contention next season: "This is not one of those things like where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever."

Before the team returns to the court for the 2012/13 season, the Lakers will have a number of roster moves and decisions to make. Here's the latest on a few of the issues facing the club:

Andrew Bynum told reporters last night, including Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, that he's not sure what his future in Los Angeles holds. According to Bynum's agent David Lee, the ball is in the Lakers' court when it comes to talking about a contract extension for the young center.
Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com looks at eight questions facing the Lakers as the team prepares for the offseason. Within the piece, he suggests that coach Mike Brown won't be fired, and wonders whether Ramon Sessions will pick up his player option after a poor postseason.
Over the luxury-tax threshold and with only the 60th pick in the draft, the Lakers will have to make trades if they hope to improve their roster, writes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
Pau Gasol's time as a Laker will likely end soon, since he's their only logical trade chip, says Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune tweets that he expects the Timberwolves to get involved in Gasol trade discussions again.
Gasol should be the first domino to fall, but the Lakers will be faced with other decisions too, writes McMenamin.
For his part, Gasol doesn't think the Lakers need to significantly overhaul the roster, as he tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Gasol, Bynum, and Bryant all suggested that a full training camp would've helped the Lakers, who were adjusting to Brown's system.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Ramon Sessions

May 15th, 2012 at 8:12pm CST by Daniel Seco

As the Lakers struggled in Game 1 against the Thunder on Monday evening, Ramon Sessions' future with the team remains slightly ambiguous. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Cavaliers, Sessions proved to be a strong upgrade at the point guard position over the aging Derek Fisher as he infused the Lakers' backcourt with youth and energy. The former Nevada star holds a player option for next season at $4.55MM after averaging 11.3 PPG and and 5.5 APG in 64 games this past year.

Sessions' departure from Cleveland allowed for the 26-year-old guard to assume a consistent starting role for the first time in his career and thrived upon his arrival in Los Angeles. His style of play is predicated on driving to the basket and using his 6-foot-3 frame to post up his opponent. Health has not been a serious concern for Sessions as he's demonstrated an ability to stay on the court and fight through lingering injuries throughout his career. He earned $4.26MM during the 2011/2012 season and will potentially look to get a contract that exceeds his player option for next year by signing a multiyear deal this summer.

While Sessions is clearly a strong young talent with many dynamic aspects to his game, there are still areas of weakness that keep him from being a complete player on both sides of the ball. Sessions lacks a reliable jump shot and stays away from taking many three-pointers, both of which decrease the amount of points he contributes on a nightly basis. Defensively, Sessions uses his quickness to his advantage as he's an average defender who doesn't accumulate many steals and struggles to defend post players given his slight build.

Sessions proved enough with the Lakers during the regular season that his sporadic performances thus far during the playoffs may not be enough to deter the fifth-year player from declining his player option. The Lakers will likely be one of his chief suitors regardless of Sessions' decision, unless Los Angeles decides to blow up their roster in the wake of a potential sweep by the Thunder. In such a situation, the Lakers would attempt to trade Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol with hopes of landing Dwight Howard and may pursue a veteran point guard like Steve Nash in an effort to provide Kobe Bryant the best chance to win another ring.

Sessions spoke with the media during the first round of the playoffs about coming to the Lakers, how he's handled his new role as a starter and his thoughts for the future. "It's definitely something that's not in the back of my mind right now because I'm trying to focus on the playoffs," Sessions said on the eve of Game 4 [against the Nuggets]. "It's not even a concern. I don't know what's going to happen. I know it's coming. "It's something I'll deal with."

Whatever team ends up with Sessions can expect 28 to 32 minutes per game with 12 to 15 points and approximately 5 to 6 assists per contest. He has shown that he can handle the starting point guard position on a squad full of superstars and big personalities during his brief tenure in Los Angeles. Look for Sessions to decline his player option this offseason and re-sign with the Lakers on a multiyear contract.

Odds & Ends: Rose, Bulls, Knicks, Terry

May 12th, 2012 at 9:37pm CST by Ryan Raroque

The Bulls announced that Derrick Rose underwent successful surgery to repair the torn ACL he suffered a few weeks ago and faces an eight-to-ten month recovery period, writes K.C. Johnson and Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune. In separate pieces, Johnson evaluates the performance of each player on Chicago's roster and talks about how the team's salary cap-restrtictions creates the need to be innovative in trying to improve the roster this summer. Here are more of tonight's miscellaneous links:

The Knicks will be looking for another point guard to partner with Jeremy Lin, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Among Berman's list of targets are Kirk Hinrich, Gary Neal, Derek Fisher, A.J. Price, Jannero Pargo, and Jonny Flynn. He also mentions Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton, Goran Dragic, Andre Miller, Jameer Nelson, and Steve Nash, but I think that the names on this latter list would only be sought after if contract talks with Lin were to somehow fall apart.
After recently having his interim tag removed, Knicks GM Glen Grunwald has a lot of work cut out for him in the upcoming months, says Al Iannazzone of Newsday. He also adds that with the mid-level likely committed to Lin and no first-round pick, Grunwald will have to be creative with trades and free agency in order to address their back court needs. In another article, Iannazzone goes over the five biggest questions facing the team moving forward.
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News speculates that Jason Terry could be on his way out if Deron Williams lands with the Mavericks (subscribers only).
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld engaged in his weekly NBA chat with fans. Here are some of his notable thoughts: the Magic may try to package their #19 pick along with Jason Richardson or Chris Duhon to create cap relief, Austin Rivers' game is comparable to Jason Terry and Jamal Crawford, and predicts that Dwight Howard will wind up signing with the Nets eventually.
Bob Young of the Arizona Republic offers his input on the chances of reportedly interested teams in their pursuit of Steve Nash. Phoenix, Toronto, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, and Portland are given consideration.
John Rohde of NewsOK explores how the support of his Thunder teammates has played a pivotal role in Eric Maynor's road to recovery from a torn ACL.

Lakers Notes: Jordan Hill, Ramon Sessions

May 7th, 2012 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

Not even a fan running out onto the court during last night's game could slow down the Lakers, who beat the Nuggets in Denver to take a 3-1 series lead. Jordan Hill and Ramon Sessions, who Los Angeles acquired at the trade deadline, combined for 24 points, with Hill pulling down 11 rebounds for a double-double. Two of the newest Lakers could end up being more than just rental players, as Monday morning's Lakers links outline:

It seems "increasingly probable" that the Lakers will attempt to re-sign Hill this summer, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
Hill on the offseason: "Being a free agent, anything can happen. I'm just trying not to focus on that right now. I'm just trying to focus on this ring. It will definitely feel great to have a ring on my finger and after the season, we'll go from there."
Talking to Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News, Sessions echoed Hill's sentiment, noting that he was focusing on the playoffs for now. The point guard holds a $4.55MM player option for 2012/13, but the general belief is that he'll turn down the option to negotiate a multiyear deal with the Lakers. Said Sessions: "It's not even a concern. I don't know what's going to happen. I know it's coming. It's something I'll deal with."

Top 5 New Additions For Playoff Contenders

May 6th, 2012 at 11:21am CST by Daniel Seco

Many of the teams currently in the playoffs made key offseason or trade deadline acquisitions with hopes of enjoying postseason success well into June. Some have fared well while others have flopped. Here are the top five playoff contributors who have filed for a change of address in the past year.

Bulls: With an increased workload in the playoffs, Richard Hamilton has been effective for the Bulls over the first three games against the Sixers. The former Pistons shooting guard has averaged 30.3 minutes per game which has brought an increased offensive output along the lines of 15.3 PPG and 5.3 APG. The Bulls will continue to look to rely on Hamilton's hot hand with Derrick Rose sidelined for the rest of the season and Joakim Noah out for Sunday's game with an injured ankle.
Heat: Former Duke star Shane Battier has been a defensive stalwart in the playoffs for Miami especially in Game 3 where he shut down Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. While the former Rockets small forward failed to score any points of his own, he kept Anthony to 22 points, which the former Syracuse star had to work for as he shot 7-23. Battier contributed offensively in the first two games of the series where he averaged 9.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG.
Pacers: The Pacers have gotten vintage play out of David West in three of their first four games against the Magic. West, who signed with the Pacers in the offseason, has averaged 16.8 PPG and 10.0 RPG during the playoffs this season. Indiana will look to close out the series with a win against the Magic at home on Tuesday.
Lakers: Looking to upgrade the team's aging backcourt, the Lakers acquired Ramon Sessions from the Cavs at the trade deadline. Sessions has proven his mettle thus far in the playoffs with strong play at the point guard position. The former Nevada star is currently averaging 14.3 PPG and 5.0 APG through three games against the Nuggets.
Clippers: After willing his team to a stunning comeback victory over the Grizzlies in Game 1, Chris Paul has led the Clippers to a 2-1 lead in the series heading into Monday night's game in Los Angeles. Acquired in the offseason by the Clippers, Paul put up MVP-like numbers during the regular season and has continued to elevate his level of play during the playoffs. The former Wake Forest star is averaging 22.3 PPG and 9.3 APG through three games.

Odds & Ends: Odom, Novak, Lottery, Sessions

May 3rd, 2012 at 9:57pm CST by Michael Pina

Bob Young from AZCentral.com thinks the Suns should take a long, hard look at signing Lamar Odom this offseason. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has a ton to prove coming off a terrible experiment with the Mavericks.

Earlier tonight, the Heat defeated the Knicks—who were without starting power forward Amare Stoudemire—87-70. In Stoudemire's place, New York head coach Mike Woodson chose to start Steve Novak. The results were disastrous, writes Newsday's Roderick Boone.
After the obvious tanking strategy we saw employed by teams like the Warriors and Hornets, the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen calls for the weighted lottery to become a true lottery, giving every team that doesn't make the playoffs an equal chance at the number one overall pick.
FoxSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico writes that Ramon Sessions ability to fit in with the Lakers has once again made them a championship contender.
Every team faces tough decisions in the offseason, but this summer the Suns will have an incredibly difficult decision staring them down, as they figure out whether they should continue the Steve Nash era, or finally move on. Hoopsworld.com's Jason Fleming dissects the team's dire situation.
Melissa Isaacson from ESPNChicago.com writes that a first round loss to the Sixers could have a long-term negative impact on the Bulls.
After initially believing he might be able to return for Game 4 of his series against the Heat, Jeremy Lin has all but ruled himself out for the early return, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley.
ESPNChicago.com's Donald Hunt talks about Jrue Holiday's need to keep up his stellar play if the Sixers want to pull off an upset.
While Shawn Marion is keeping Kevin Durant in check through the first two games of their series, Russell Westbrook has had a field day, and it'll be interesting to see whether the Mavericks choose to change their match-ups as the series moves forward, writes the Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend.
Hoopsworld.com's Eric Pincus talks about how the Lakers should look to bring back Jordan Hill, who's a free agent this offseason.

Sessions Looking For Long-Term Lakers Deal

April 15th, 2012 at 11:19am CST by Daniel Seco

Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions is expected to decline a player option for $4.6MM and become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season with hopes of returning to Los Angeles on a long-term deal, writes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.

Sessions said that he feels like he has been given an opportunity with the Lakers to show the NBA what he's capable of doing as a starting point guard, something that he hasn't been afforded in other stops along his career.

"It's crazy. My whole career, there's never been a point where I kind of had control," he said. "Now I've got control."

After leaving school early and barely being drafted in 2007 by the Bucks, Sessions struggled to prove that he had the talent to become an impact player in the NBA. From injuries to stints in the D-League to backing up veterans, Sessions often found himself questioning if he would ever make something of himself in the NBA. While he never enjoyed sustained success in any of his myriad stops before arriving in Los Angeles, Sessions showed flashes of brilliance with a Bucks team-record 24 assists in a game his rookie year and a 44-point outburst against the Pistons during his second season.

The former Nevada star was acquired from the Cavs at the trade deadline and has provided the Lakers with a youthful spark as the team's new starting point guard after trading Derek Fisher to the Rockets. Sessions, 26, has been a major reason why the Lakers are currently the third seed in the Western Conference with his 13.1 PPG and 7.1 APG since arriving in Los Angeles. Given his strong level of play and a chance to showcase his talents during the playoffs, Sessions will command a great deal of attention during free agency if he can't strike a deal with the Lakers.