Lakers Roster Review: Derrick Caracter

Age: 23

NBA Experience: 1 year

Contract Status: Signed thru 2011-12

2010-11 Averages: 1.9ppg, 1.0rpg, 48% FG, 73% FT

Once one of basketball’s most promising prodigies, Derrick Caracter has experienced plenty of bumps in the road yet somehow has still reached the NBA.  There are those moments of brilliance when his natural abilities make him seem like a steal as a late second round pick. Moments like the time he owned highly touted rookie DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings. Then are those moments that make you realize why he never reached his full potential and was all but asked to leave Louisville after just two seasons. Moments like his now infamous arrest at a New Orleans IHOP.

Caracter certainly has plenty of baggage, none of that was a secret. He’s also got all kinds of talent. Which one outweighs the other will ultimately determine his future.

His performance in the summer league made Laker fans take early notice of DC. Some early season injuries gave Caracter a chance to see extended time on the court and Caracter played well in brief moments. His first season also included a couple of productive stints in the D-League.

Unfortunately what most will remember of Caracter’s first and possibly only season in Los Angeles was his arrest during the first round of the playoffs. Maturity issues and a questionable work ethic are what took Caracter to two different schools during his collegiate career. Now those same issues could threaten his young pro career.

If he can focus on hoops and put the other issues aside there is no doubt Derrick Caracter could have a long career in the NBA. But that is a gamble. A Gamble that the Lakers could be unwilling to take depending on what kind of a role Mike Brown has in store for the troubled but talented forward.