Los Angeles Lakers

So the Dwightmare has officially begun with Dwight's arbitrary link to another city! (See full story HERE) Dwight Howard had an off-year (for him) as he was not considered for Defensive Player of the Year despite being signed to anchor the Lakers defensively. Given Kobe & Nash's defensive contributions along with their contracts, there are not a lot of options here outside of trading Pau for an Ibaka-type. Given Dwight's demand for more touches in the offense along with his laughable free throw performance, perhaps trading Pau for a defensive-minded PF would make sense. Unless, Dwight signs somewhere else... Then, of course, we'll see what kind of magic Mitch can work, but his work will be cut out for him. Remember, the Lakers may not have Kobe for much of next year, and they still owe this year's draft picks plus both their 2014 2nd round pick and their 2015 1st round pick to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Steve Nash trade. This is unfortunate for the Lakers because you're asking Dwight to commit his prime years to what could be a rebuilding effort as LA prepares for the (eventual) decline of Kobe. Contrast this to Houston who has a genuine superstar who has not even reached his prime! Houston also has a smart GM who has assembled a flexible, young and talented roster. The advantage that LA enjoys by being able to offer an extra year plus $30 million in salary is offset somewhat by the Texas teams, Houston & Dallas, in that residents of Texas pay zero state income tax. Compared to California's taxes, how much money would Dwight really be leaving on the table by signing with a team from the Lone Star state? Will the Dwightmare turn out to be an actual nightmare for Lakers fans?? Stay tuned - as there will be reports galore until July! So the Dwightmare has officially begun with Dwight's arbitrary link to another city! (See full story HERE) Dwight Howard had an off-year (for him) as he was not considered for Defensive Player of the Year despite being signed to anchor the Lakers defensively. Given Kobe & Nash's defensive contributions along with their contracts, there are not a lot of options here outside of trading Pau for an Ibaka-type. Given Dwight's demand for more touches in the offense along with his laughable free throw performance, perhaps trading Pau for a defensive-minded PF would make sense. Unless, Dwight signs somewhere else... Then, of course, we'll see what kind of magic Mitch can work, but his work will be cut out for him. Remember, the Lakers may not have Kobe for much of next year, and they still owe this year's draft picks plus both their 2014 2nd round pick and their 2015 1st round pick to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Steve Nash trade. This is unfortunate for the Lakers because you're asking Dwight to commit his prime years to what could be a rebuilding effort as LA prepares for the (eventual) decline of Kobe. Contrast this to Houston who has a genuine superstar who has not even reached his prime! Houston also has a smart GM who has assembled a flexible, young and talented roster. The advantage that LA enjoys by being able to offer an extra year plus $30 million in salary is offset somewhat by the Texas teams, Houston & Dallas, in that residents of Texas pay zero state income tax. Compared to California's taxes, how much money would Dwight really be leaving on the table by signing with a team from the Lone Star state? Will the Dwightmare turn out to be an actual nightmare for Lakers fans?? Stay tuned - as there will be reports galore until July! Poll Which team do you think Dwight signs with? Lakers (We're talking rep & $30 mil, here) Houston - (If Harden isn't the best SG in the NBA, then he will be by the time Dwight's contract is up) Dallas - (No idea why he would consider here, but stranger things have happened) Somewhere else - (i.e., Megatrade!) 1 votes | Results

Mar 12, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) attempts a foul shot against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports It’s only May and the floodgates are slowly but surely giving way to yet another Dwight Howard fiasco. Ken Burger of CBS Sports has reported that Howard is reportedly considering Houston: “With six weeks to go before Howard becomes an unrestricted free agent, the team that is said to intrigue him the most is the Houston Rockets, according to multiple people briefed on internal conversations surrounding Howard’s free-agent decision.” Other potential destinations include Atlanta and Dallas. The Hawks, who will only have three players on the books entering the offseason, are perennial favorites to land the big man. Not only is the city of Atlanta Howard’s hometown, but he played his AAU career alongside free agent and Hawks’ veteran Josh Smith. Dallas, on the other hand, has one of the most influential owners in sports today in Mark Cuban – or at least we know he thinks he is. And after getting burned by Deron Williams in free agency last year, you can bet a pretty penny that Cuban is going to approach Howard with the keys to the kingdom. There always those of us, like myself, who believe the Lakers don’t have all that much too worry about. Then again … Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Be sure to “LIKE” the Lake Show Life’s facebook page for up-to-date Lakers news and analysis right from the comfort of your news feed.

Mar 6, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after dunking the ball against the New Orleans Hornets during the end of the fourth quarter at the New Orleans Arena. Los Angeles defeated New Orleans 108-102. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports For those of you that somehow missed it, Phil Jackson has finally compared Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in his new book, “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success.” Suffice it to say Jackson chose his man, should he have intended to or not. It was not Kobe Bryant. The comparisons are #apples2oranges Wonder what the perception would be if M played wit @shaq instead #differentroles #differentcareerpaths — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 17, 2013 It’s a valid response – at least in my mind. Think, what if Kobe had played alongside the likes of Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. Or later with Pippen, Toni Kukoc and Dennis Rodman. Are we supposed to honestly believe Bryant would not have six championships to his name also? On that same token, what if Jordan had played next to the transcendent dominance of a Shaquille O’Neal. Would it have tainted Jordan’s legacy as it has Bryant’s? In other words: Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Be sure to “LIKE” the Lake Show Life’s facebook page for up-to-date Lakers news and analysis right from the comfort of your news feed.

Season stats: 12.7 PPG, 6.7 APG, 2.8 RPG I remember like it was yesterday the night Steve Nash joined the Lakers; it was July 4, and I had been reading all day how the Knicks & Suns were close to a deal for Nash. I remember thinking what a great fit Nash would be in NY, running the point with Carmelo Anthony and his former Suns team-mate Amar’e Stoudemire.  I continued checking twitter all day and into early evening for updates on if the deal had been made. Then, I saw a tweet that stated “Steve Nash agrees to sign & trade with Los Angeles Lakers”. At first I thought what a cruel tease that the reporter’s twitter had been hacked. Then more tweets came out which said the same thing. I immediately turned on Sports Center, and I really couldn’t believe my eyes; BREAKING NEWS; STEVE NASH TO LAKERS. Three thoughts immediately entered into my mind; 1) I (like most other Lakers’ fans out there) was absolutely ecstatic. 2) The Lakers finally had a point guard. 3) How can David Stern veto this? The acquistion of Nash was the beginning of an off-season that was filled with gigantic expectations; when the Lakers later acquired Dwight Howard for Andrew Bynum, they truly had the makings of a super-team, with 4 future HOF’s in the starting 5. There was true excitement in LA, had fans and analysts imagined Nash running the pick & roll with Howard & Gasol to perfection, and the burden of being facilitator finally coming off Kobe’s shoulders, as all he would (seemingly) have to worry about is getting open for Nash to feed him as well. As excitement as I really was, the only point of caution in the back of my mind was Nash’s health; he was approaching 40 years of age (senior citizen in the NBA), and he had so far been very healthy throughout his career (from what I understand, the trainers in PHX are miracle-workers). How would Nash’s body respond to the new trainers in LA? The pros of having him however, in my mind far out-weighed the cons. The pre-season got off the a rocky start; the Lakers didn’t win a single game (though it was exhibition, so who really cares?). From the little that I saw though, I was almost immediately confused and a little frustrated; Mike Brown didn’t seem to be utilizing Nash at all. I didn’t see any pick & rolls, and Nash was mostly operating as a spot-up shooter. I kept thinking to myself, “Brown has one of the all-time greats at his position at his disposal, why isn’t he utilizing him at all??” Then, in the second game of the season, the unthinkable happened; Nash banged knees with Blazers’ rookie point guard Damian Lillard and was taken out of the game. We all thought he would be back that night, next game, or the week after at the latest. Not the case. We found out that Nash had indeed fractured a bone in his knee in the collision, and the resulting nerve damage would keep him out indefinitely. What was supposed to be a week-long injury turned into 2 months. During that time, the Lakers fired Brown, and brought in Nash’s old Suns coach Mike D’Antoni. MDA came in with high expectations as well, particular for Nash. No one knew MDA’s system better than Nash, and MDA knew how to utilize Nash to his fullest extend. As soon as Nash came back from injury, the Lakers would be rolling. Again, not the case. Due to a lack of training camp, the Lakers’ bigs had great difficulty adjusting to MDA’s system, and had a lot of trouble finding the right chemistry with Nash. Chemistry was a big issue throughout the season, as Nash was supposed to be a focal point of the offense, but because of his injury, couldn’t develop the chemistry needed with his team-mates. Nash’s aging body was also becoming an issue (as feared).  As a result, Bryant was once again put in the facilitator role, with Nash serving as a spot-up shooter. It had moderate success, but was often painful to watch as of the gr

2012-13 Statistics:  33.8 MPG 13.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.2 BPG, .466 FG%, .702 FT%, 33 games missed due to injury Season Recap: The seven-foot Spaniard had his worst statistical season as a Laker in terms of points, rebounds, and shooting percentages, but some of that may have been due to injury or to early unfamiliarity with Mike D’antoni’s offense. In November and December and the early weeks of Mike D’antoni’s tenure, Pau Gasol seemed to be on the wrong end of an offensive experiment. He found himself attempting more mid-range jumpers than ever before and even a handful of threes for a short while. That’s not who Pau Gasol is. He’s a crafty, skilled post player on the low block. Pau Gasol’s efficiency increased as the Lakers began to use him in the same ways that he is accustomed. In January, Pau Gasol didn’t look quite like himself. He suffered a concussion and missed five games. Soon after returning, Mike D’antoni decided to play Pau Gasol off the bench and start Earl Clark instead. Clark took the world by storm and played really well, but you have to wonder if that hurt Pau Gasol emotionally. Pau had started 345 games for the Lakers and now was being asked to play a bench role behind someone who barely made it off the practice squad?  Gasol still hadn’t fully figured out his role in the new Lakers offense at the time that he went down with plantar fascia. He missed six weeks with this injury. When he returned, he actually looked like the Pau of old. He was scoring efficiently, rebounding well, and passing spectacularly for a big man. The biggest concern with Pau Gasol as a whole this season was how he was on the floor with Dwight Howard. He had never had a real issue in a dual big man lineup with Andrew Bynum. Heck, they won two championships together. But with Dwight, it was different. The defensive spacing seemed off the whole year with both big men on the floor, and the defensive numbers were terrible when they shared the court. It was not uncommon to see miscommunication leading to wide open lay-ups off of pick-and-rolls. There were flashes of great ball movement between them offensively, but that was the exception–not the trend. Mike D’antoni even said it himself: The Lakers were best with only one of them on the floor. Unfortunately, they are both high enough caliber players that they needed to share the court during a portion of every game. 2013-14 Forecast: Who knows what’s in store for Pau Gasol next season? How will he respond from knee surgery this off-season? Will he return to the Lakers? Will they trade him? Will they amnesty him? If Pau stays, will Dwight stay too? There are questions surrounding everything for Gasol next season and his future is in total flux. I’d prefer that they get rid of him. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pau, but he doesn’t seem like a great fit with Dwight Howard, the most talented young player on the Lakers and the likely cornerstone of the future of the franchise. I’d prefer to trade him and get Josh Smith or another younger and smaller athletic power forward who can stay out of the paint and let Howard control the game and do his own thing, without interference from any of his teammates. If Pau Gasol stays on the Lakers, with Dwight Howard, and the team is composed similar to the way it is now, I’d expect him to play more of a facilitating role like he did in the waning weeks of this past season. Gasol is an excellent decision maker at the high post and had six games with at least 9 assists, including the playoffs, after returning from injury. Defensively, it’s going to be difficult. He’ll need to communicate with Dwight more and develop better chemistry during training camp so they are on the same page in terms of assignments and roles on defense during the actual season. Highlights: This is a clip from Pau’s triple-double against the Warriors near the end

“I’ll push myself to exhaustion.” If there’s one characteristic that defines Kobe Bryant’s career it is the work he has put in to become the player he is. As much as he’s been gifted his physical characteristics and that innate feel for the game that all the greats have, he’s also honed his skills through thousands of hours of hard work and made himself into the player he is. In a way, it’s that drive to be the best and the subsequent work it has inspired that has separated him from many of his contemporaries. Kobe will need to call on that ethic now more than ever in staring down his latest challenge. His rehabilitation from his torn achilles tendon is the one of, if not the, biggest obstacles he’s faced in his career and in order to come back anywhere near the player he was before before the injury, he’ll need to push himself to levels that I can’t even imagine. Whether he can actually achieve this goal remains an open question, but if there’s one player who we can’t doubt will push himself that extra mile it is Kobe. After all, his career has been built on putting in that extra time and, as the video shows above, vigorously working to become the player we’ve seen for 17 years.

Jun 21, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) celebrates with the Bill Russell mvp trophy after winning the NBA championship in game five of the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports With Dwight Howard taking a breath of fresh air before making his ‘decision’ and Kobe Bryant climbing an uphill battle against an Achilles injury, there’s no telling if either of them will be suiting up for the Lakers in 2014. What we do know, however, is that Steve Nash is currently the only contract on the books for the Lakers in 2014. With that, I’d like to take a look at a few of the biggest names on the market in 2014 which the Lakers could potentially pursue. Never to early too start looking ahead, right? Lebron James So it’s far-fetched, but the best basketball player in the world will be hitting the market in 2014. For whatever reason, there’s mumblings around the web that he’ll reunite with the Cavaliers – which I’m not seeing the validity in myself. Adrian Wojnarowski doesn’t either. Be that as it may, James could either be in the midst of a dynasty with the Heat in 2014, or on a team losing steam with the inevitable decline of Dwyane Wade. Should it be the latter, we could see the big three in Miami go their separate ways. Carmelo Anthony We’re dealing with a double-edged sword here. Melo is a supreme talent and an elite scorer in the league, no one can deny that. But on that same token, there are serious questions surrounding his ability to lead a team to a title. Even so, LA would probably be in a better position to surround him with talent – mostly because their pockets have no conscience. Rudy Gay Gay will be 28, entering his prime and ready to get the hell out of Toronto in 2014. No offense, Toronto. While Gay has never shed his label as a borderline star, he’s the type of player that could settle into a Robin role – with some Batman upside. The Grizzlies ascent to the Western Conference Finals in his departure is a little concerning though. DeMarcus Cousins (restricted) We’ll toss in a few restricted free agent because the Lakers are never afraid to overspend for mediocre talent. Alright, so you can overlook the ‘mediocre talent’ bit with this guy, his ceiling is one of the highest you’re likely to come across. On the other hand, he’s kind of a head case. It’ll be interesting to see how that crazy/upside scale grades out in a couple of years. Eric Bledsoe (restricted) With Chris Paul in town, Bledsoe is second fiddle and only biding his time till he can get out of a Clippers uniform. And while it’s likely the Clips will try to move him before he skips town, we can only hope that he finds his way to the Lakers. Mark my words, this kid will be elite. Honorable mentions: Evan Turner (restricted), Kyle Lowry, Danny Granger, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Be sure to “LIKE” the Lake Show Life’s facebook page for up-to-date Lakers news and analysis right from the comfort of your news feed.

Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson looks on as the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O Tell us how you really feel. Phil Jackson is making a lot of headlines in the last 24 hours; from his " target="_blank">comparison of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to recalling how the Lakers basically screwed him out of a return to LA on the “Tonight Show”- my words, not his. “Tell us what actually happened,” asked Jay Leno. To which – after a hearty chuckle – Jackson replies, “How long is this show?” Tell me that doesn’t adequately sum up the Lakers season. Wait, we are still calling it a season, right? The worst part is where Jackson recollects how Jeanie, his fiance and sister of Jim Buss, came to him and said, “Will you talk to my brother?” The next day Jackson sits down with Jim, who mind you is doing this as a favor to his fiance, and says, “I can coach this team, I have no doubts about that it. Physically I’m okay but I don’t know if I’m ready to step back into this. Give me a weekend to think about it.” That Sunday, Phil gets a call from Jim in the middle of the night saying, “We’ve hired another coach, Mike D’Antoni.” There are not words I could use to describe how incredibly sickened I am to hear this first hand from Jackson. Well, I mean I could – it just wouldn’t be all that pleasant. Be sure to “LIKE” the Lake Show Life’s facebook page for up-to-date Lakers news and analysis right from the comfort of your news feed.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports With the NBA draft nearing, the writers here at Lake Show Life offer their thoughts on three prospects they feel the Lakers should select 48th overall. Who should the Lakers draft with the 48th overall selection? Skyler Gilbert: ? Vander Blue/SG/6-5/Junior/Marquette Blue was a solid guard for Marquette this year, a school that has produced NBA-caliber guards in the past (Dwyane Wade, Wesley Matthews, Jimmy Butler). He was a great defender and, although his offensive game is still raw, came alive in the NCAA tournament, scoring 18.3 PPG in four games ? BJ Young/SG/6-3/Sophomore/Arkansas Young was an Arkansas Razorback last season. He was a great scorer in the SEC and one of the best fast-break offensive players in the whole nation. ? Ricky Ledo/SG/6-6/Freshman/Providence Ledo was a freshman for Providence last year, but was forced to sit out the whole season due to academic issues. As a high school player, Ledo used his 6’7 length to be a high-effort defensive force who can get his fair share of steals. Fern Rea: ? Glen Rice Jr./SG/6-5/Junior/Georgia Tech Rice Jr. is a perfect size to play the 2 guard position in the NBA at 6’5 and 206 pounds. Rice Jr. possesses a similar shooting touch from the outside as his father, but is a little more athletic and a great finisher around the rim. Rice Jr. scoring prowess would be a great find in the second round and fill a need for outside shooting help for the Lakers. ? Rodney Williams/SF/6-7/Senior/Minnesota The Lakers are in desperate need of youth, speed and athleticism; Rodney Williams fills all of those needs. Williams is an athletically gifted 6’7 wing player with a lengthy 6’10 foot wingspan. Williams’ tremendous athletic ability allows him to be a strong finisher around the basket and is devastating in the open court. Williams lacks refined offensive skills but his superior athletic ability alone is worth the Lakers taking him with their second round pick. ? Andre Roberson/SF/6-7/Junior/Colorado  Roberson is a 6’7 athletic freak with a good motor. Roberson will be able to immediately contribute at the NBA level as a situational perimeter wing defender and energy guy off the bench. Roberson has upside with the amount of natural athletic ability he possess and has room to grow on the offensive end of the floor. Daniel Nicks: ? Ryan Kelly/PF/6-11/Senior/Duke There’s no doubt Kelly’s recent foot surgery will impact his draft stock – which could ultimately play right into the Lakers hands. He’s the quintessential stretch four and is a solid low post defender. ? Michael Snaer/SG/6-5/Senior/Florida State He never really realized the ceiling many thought he would at the collegiate level. But make no mistake, he’s a creative scorer and knocked down six game winning buzzer-beaters in his junior and senior seasons. ? James Southerland/SF/6-8/Senior/Syracuse He’s a streaky shooter. That’s an understatement. He’s an extremely streaky shooter. But when the kid is on – shades of Reggie Miller. His athleticism also sneaks up on you. Caleb Cottrell: ? Ryan Kelly/PF/6-11/Senior/Duke I really like the 6’11 power forward out of Duke. He is a 40 percent shooter from beyond the three point line, which would be big because Mike D’Antoni likes having a stretch four on the team. I could see him being a step down from Ryan Anderson because he isn’t the best rebounder. ? Pierre Jackson/PG/5-10/Senior/Baylor This kid is as athletic as they come. I have heard someone compare Jackson to a better Nate Robinson. If this is true, he would be a great fit for the Lakers off the bench. He’s a bit undersized at 5’10, but that hasn’t stopped Nate Robinson or Isaiah Thomas. Jackson’s stats in his last season with Ba

The playoffs continue to roll with the Memphis Grizzlies heading for a down and dirty showdown with the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. For the Los Angeles Lakers, the story continues to be whether Dwight Howard will or won’t resign and how to fill in the gaps around a core group of expensive veterans. General wisdom holds that Lakers need to preserve the ability to rebuild during the 2014-15 season when Kobe and Pau’s contracts come off the books. The new CBA doesn’t give much wiggle room regardless – the upcoming season poses the challenge of fielding a supporting cast through the team’s own free agents, the mini mid-level exception, veteran minimum deals, the 49th pick in the 2013 draft and any potential Pau Gasol trade. Jovan Buha for ESPN’s Lakers Index writes about Lakers under and not under contract and who could fill in the gaps on one-year deals. Drew Garrison from Silver Screen and Roll takes a look at free agent Raja Bell, an affordable veteran who hasn’t played in over a year. The Kamenetzky Brothers’ latest podcast at the Land O’Lakers covers the Dwight scenario and the likelihood that it could be a long summer of waiting. Chuck Schiliken for the LATimes writes about the highest-paid athlete in Los Angeles and fourth-highest in the nation, one Kobe Bryant. Mike Trudell from the official Lakers blog offers a player capsule for Jodie Meeks. The shooter has a team option for the upcoming season for $1.55 million. Finally, a cool article by Alex Wong aka Steven Lebron for TSFJ about Kobe’s musical musings. *** Most of the recent stories about Derek Fisher have centered on his continuing quest to win one more ring. With the Thunder now embarking on their summer vacation, Fish’s last best shot may have passed. He’ll be 39 in August and will no doubt continue to be a free agent news item until he finally makes it official and hangs them up for good. The reports of Billy Hunter’s new lawsuit against Fish and other interested parties brings us back to a different but all too familiar saga. Hunter is seeking to prove in a court of law that Fisher circumvented the bounds of his own contract by negotiating secretly with handpicked NBA owners. There’s a couple obvious hurdles that Billy Hunter has to cross. For starters, the NBA lockout and resulting negotiations were hardly a matter of secrecy. The whole mess was covered in excruciating detail not only by sports outlets but by the national media on whole. The players association was joined in its efforts by some of the heaviest hitters in the fields of mediation and litigation, namely George Cohen and David Boies. The association ultimately disbanded and filed anti-trust suits which achieved the desired result of forcing the owners back to the bargaining table. Whether the final agreement was good for the players or the NBA in general is debatable. One of the linchpins of the case however, is a claim that an unnamed NBA player and his representative called Hunter on October 27, 2011 to apprise him of a backdoor agreement between Fisher and certain owners. Does Billy Hunter have a winnable case? Probably not but the Machiavellian quest for revenge and redemption will continue to roll. Hunter will never again serve as the head of the NBPA but his latest legal action is simply the logical extension of a power struggle with long and bitter roots. There will be parties within the association’s executive committee as well as media members with personal motivation who will gladly keep this thing going throughout the summer and well beyond. This lead-out bumper was actually going to continue along the free agency topic – see how easily I get sidetracked?