Vitals
Age: 22
NBA Experience: 2 Years
Contract Status: Free agent
2011-12 Averages: 4.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 16.5 mpg, 41% FG, 65% FT
It’s been an awkward two years of pro ball in Los Angeles for Devin Ebanks. He had the great misfortune of being coached by Phil Jackson as a rookie. That might sound like an insult directed at the greatest coach in the history of the game but try telling any rookie that playing for PJ is fun. Known for his general disdain of having to bring along young and inexperienced players Jackson gave Ebanks the best seat in the house for Laker games during the 2010-11 season.
So entering his second season it stood to reason that things could only get better for Ebanks as he got a clean slate with Mike Brown.
Things started out well for Devin who earned himself a starting gig coming out of the abbreviated preseason. With Metta World Peace making the move to the sixth man role vacated by Lamar Odom it was already understood that Ebanks was starting but wouldn’t be getting starter’s minutes. Turns out he wouldn’t be getting any minutes. After only a few starts Ebanks was back in the same seat he had on Jackson’s watch.
Before long it was back to the D-League for Devin as he was a complete after thought in Brown’s rotation.
Then opportunity came knocking again in the form of a Metta World Peace elbow to the dome of James Harden. Once again Ebanks was elevated to the starting lineup and had some impressive showings in the playoffs. Of course once World Peace was back in the lineup it was back to the end of the bench for Devin.
Now he’s slated to be a free agent and Ebanks’ agent said earlier in the season that his client would be pursuing other options. No telling what the Lakers think of Devin but his frame, athletic ability and shooting touch are a nice building block for the type of player they’ll need going forward. As a rookie Ebanks was drawing Trevor Ariza comparisons. We know how well it worked with Ariza playing his role with the Lake Show. If Ebanks is anything similar the Lakers could already have one piece of the championship puzzle…that’s if they re-sign Devin and finally commit to developing him.