There has been a lot of Los Angeles Lakers news for fans to digest over the last week. The Lakers were extremely busy during NBA free agency and have already built a deep roster that is ready to compete for the NBA Championship next season.
If that was not enough, NBA Summer League action has already tipped off with the California Classic starting on July 3. The NBA truly never stops and while the team is not playing, there is plenty to catch up on for Lakers fans.
We hope everyone reading this has a fun and safe Fourth of July celebration. Here is your Lakers news roundup to start it off with a bang.
Lakers news roundup
Lakers hire DeMarre Carroll as an assistant coach
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly hiring DeMarre Carroll as an assistant coach under Darvin Ham. Carroll is an 11-year NBA veteran who is a former first-round pick and last played in 2020.
Ham coached Carroll for several years when he was an assistant under Mike Budenzholer on the Atlanta Hawks. While it might seem like a small move, assistant coaches can make a huge difference in player development. Just ask Phil Handy.
Lakers fall in first Summer League game vs Heat
Less than two full months after LA’s last game the team was technically back in action on Monday against the Miami Heat. It was LA’s first game of the California Classic and the team fell 90-107.
While the outcome did not go the Lakers’ way, there were some promising performances by the young Lakers’ role players. Most notably, Max Christie looked like the best player on the court as fans are expecting a breakout sophomore season for the second-round pick. Christie finished with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Lakers lose Malik Beasley to the Milwaukee Bucks
It seemed like Malik Beasley was a lock to return to the Lakers after Lonnie Walker IV signed with the Brooklyn Nets. However, it ultimately was not meant to be as Beasley signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Beasley could have gotten more than the minimum from the Lake Show, who had Beasley’s Bird Rights to utilize. Either the team didn’t want to pay more than the minimum or Beasley wanted a bigger guaranteed role in Milwaukee.
NBA news roundup:
- Anthony Edwards inked a five-year, max extension that cements him as the cornerstone of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise.
- Chet Holmgren returned to NBA action on Monday after missing all of his rookie season due to injury. The second-overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft scored 15 points with nine rebounds and four blocks in a 95-85 win over the Utah Jazz.
- Second-overall pick Brandon Miller scored 18 points with seven fouls in his first taste of NBA action against the San Antonio Spurs. Unfortunately, the Spurs did not play Victor Wembanyama.