Archive for July, 2011

With all the doom and gloom surrounding the NBA lockout there is no shortage of players making plans to collect checks in other countries. Last week Kobe Bryant made headlines for a proposed tour of China his agent is trying to get together. Pau Gasol could be making a return to Spain and just yesterday it was announced Deron Williams has a deal in place with a Turkish team. If you’re already got one NBA stud on the hook then why not try and reel in another? That’s exactly what Ergin Ataman, head coach of Turkish club Besiktas, plans on [...]

Vitals Age: 38 NBA Experience: 16 years Contract Status: Free Agent 2010-11 Averages: .2ppg, 1.3rpg, .5bpg, 16% FG There really isn’t much to say about Theo Ratliff’s lone year in Los Angeles and what could be his final season of pro ball. Never expected to be more than an occasional contributor, Ratliff was brought on board for his defensive prowess. Well, we didn’t see much D from him if anything at all. Ratliff played in just 10 games before undergoing knee surgery and never playing again. While he didn’t contribute much in his limited time as a Laker his loss [...]

Mickael Pietrus might think that kissing the ring of the world’s best baller will get him a gig in L.A. but he is sorely mistaken. The rest of the world may think that Kobe Bryant is the man calling the shots in Lakerland but the city of Los Angeles is well aware that Jim Buss is running the show. If Buss couldn’t be bothered with giving KB24 a call to let him know who his new coach will be then why would he take any of Bryant’s personnel advice into consideration? Pietrus has made headlines by expressing not only his [...]

Vitals Age: 31 NBA Experience: 8 years Contract Status: Signed thru 2012-13 2010-11 Averages: 1.7ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.1apg, 32% FG, 23% 3PT, 70% FT Hard to believe but there was once a point in time where Luke Walton was worth the $5-million he’s banking and was actually a sought after commodity. Hindsight usually being better than foresight Mitch Kupchak probably wants that deal back. Injuries and age have taken their toll on Luke. But let’s be honest, were it not for the triangle offense chances are Walton would have never earned a contract the likes of which he has now. To [...]

If there is one thing I’ve learned during my years of Lakerfandom it is to never doubt Derek Fisher. I’ll admit my guilt. There have been numerous times I’ve written of Fish. Like when he first departed the Lakers for Golden State. At that point I just knew his career was over. Those foot injuries had put his better days in the rearview. Needless to say I was begging for him to return once I saw D-Fish deliver daggers in the playoffs as a member of the Utah Jazz. The hoops Gods must have heard my pleas because it wasn’t [...]

  Vitals Age: 25 NBA Experience: 5 years Contract Status: Free Agent 2010-11 Averages: 8.6ppg, 1.9rpg, .8spg, 42% FG, 34% 3PT, 91% FT   Timing is everything in life, just ask Shannon Brown. His career has been a rollercoaster ride that took him from the depths of nearly being out of the NBA to the heights of being a two-time champion. Shannon arrived in Los Angeles as a trade throw-in and he could be leaving as a highly sought free agent. Timing is indeed everything which is why Brown’s decision to opt-out of a contract that would have paid him [...]

Kobe Bryant is venturing into uncharted waters. With 14 years of NBA service under his belt he’s gone from wide-eyed rookie to narrow gazed vet in what feels like a matter of months. Hard to believe it when you step back and look at his entire body of work. One day, after his playing days are long since over, we’ll all recant in amazement all of the feats he’s accomplished. Kobe’s legacy is the stuff of legend at times seeming too impossible to be true. He didn’t really drop 81. No way he outscored the Mavericks in three quarters. He [...]

Vitals Age: 31 NBA Experience: 9 years Contract Status: Signed thru 2011-12 2010-11 Averages: 6.7ppg, 4.3rpg, .7spg, 47% FG, 31% 3PT, 77% FT It was the story of two seasons for Matt Barnes’ first year in Los Angeles. There was the pre-injury Barnes that provided the energy and attitude off the bench the Lakers sought when they signed the career journeyman. Then there was the post-injury Barnes that fell into the same lull the rest of the bench did late in the season. When Kobe Bryant threw a curveball at the hoops world by openly courting Barnes – a sworn [...]

Here’s to a happy holiday and a big thanks to all of the members of the armed forces on this July 4th! Relax, enjoy the weather, fire up the grill and grab a cold beverage of your choice. Hopefully come this time next year we’ll be basking in the afterglow of Mike Brown’s first title. From Lake Show Life to all of the Laker fans out there, happy 4th of July!

Vitals Age: 31 NBA Experience: 8 years Contract Status: Signed thru 2013-14 2010-11 Averages: 4.0ppg, 2.1apg, .5spg, 35% FG, 37% 3PT, 86% FT Steve Blake was supposed to be the steady vet that was going to lead the charge off the pine and potentially push Derek Fisher for starter’s minutes. Instead Blake’s biggest contribution to the locker room was a potential chicken pox outbreak. After it was all said and done his first year in Purple and Gold was a bust. His numbers were about as impressive as his game during the 2010-11 season. Beyond the stats Blake was gun-shy, [...]