Yes, it has been a long summer but the wait is almost over. Training camp is nearly here and the Lakers will soon hit the court, trying to absorb Byron Scott’s schemes while learning each other. Just like the last two seasons, the roster has turned over by half and that type of change takes time to adjust to. Two of those changes have occurred this week when the Lakers signed two guards to help on the wing and provide a roster in transition more veteran players who will challenge for minutes on the perimeter.
The first player added is Wayne Ellington, a 5 year pro out of the University of North Carolina. His Tarheel roots probably helped him get a contract from Mitch Kupchak, but what likely aided him more was the half a season he spent in Cleveland playing under Byron Scott. In those 37 games Ellington played over 25 minutes a night and put up double digit points on on 44% shooting from the floor. This stretch should not be glorified as some extreme run of great play, but it does constitute the best stretch of Ellington’s career even if his three point shot was not falling at his normal accuracy.
That last point is most important. Over his 5 year career, Ellington shot over 39% from deep in 4 of those seasons. His career mark of 38.6% from behind the arc is well above the league average and would make him the Lakers’ best shooter from deep should he find his way to the final roster. What the Lakers are surely hoping, then, is that Ellington finds his range from deep while also being able to duplicate the 49% shooting from 2 point range that he did in that half season in Cleveland. That level of play would be very close to what Jodie Meeks provided last season (40% from 3, 51% from inside the arc). Of course, I’m sure the Mavericks were hoping the same thing last season, but Ellington never found his way into Rick Carlisle’s rotation managing to only appear in 46 games while playing less than 10 minutes a night. In other words, while the skill is seemingly there it remains to be seen if he can earn a role on this team. Even if Scott knows what he’s capable of.
The other key signing is Ronnie Price, whom the Lakers inked to a contract on Wednesday. Price came into the league in 2005 and has bounced around the league, spending time in Sacramento, Utah, Portland, Phoenix, and Orlando. For his career, Price has mostly been a 2nd or 3rd string point guard who saw minutes due to his competitiveness and willingness to play hard. His statistics will not wow you — he’s a career 38% shooter while hitting less than 30% of his shots from deep — and hasn’t really proven to be a guard who can create for others or himself offensively.
He will play hard, however, and that is fine if he’s your insurance guard who will clearly be below Lin and Nash on the depth chart. If I had my way, he’d also be behind Clarkson as I do believe the rookie guard should get chances to see game action and be put on a track of development this year. Whether Scott agrees with this remains to be seen, but Price’s veteran status and willingness to mix it up with any opponent will surely earn him his coach’s respect. That said, as much as playing hard is a skill, Price doesn’t have many others beyond that and while I’d have no qualms if he made the final roster I would start to question things if his presence negatively impacted that of other guards (namely, Clarkson) in the process.
Also worth mentioning is that signing both Price and Ellington brings the Lakers’ roster to 15. And while they also added 4 more players on Wednesday (brining the roster to 19 players), those guys are essentially camp invites who have little chance of making the team. Ellington and Price, though, look to have a path to being on this roster opening night. I did not expect the Lakers to carry 15 players into the season and that may well change before the first game tips off, but as the roster stands now it looks more and more likely my initial thoughts were incorrect.
We will see how this all plays out, though. Camp will be here very soon and, with it, more information as to how the roster will shape up will be out our disposal. Finally.
Kenny T says
I liked Ellington a lot coming out of college… Thought he’d have developed into a much better pro. by now. And I can see Price as insurance in case Nash or Lin goes down. It’s a long season. Interesting pickups, but I’m a little dismayed that the Lakers haven’t added some more size.
Nate says
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Go Lakers…….
Warren Wee Lim says
The value of unguaranteed contracts… Thats what they are. They can be cut if a good deal comes along that adds more personnel than we can carry. At the same time we can have more guys to bounce with esp that Nash, Boozer and Kobe combine for 700 years old.
BigCitySid says
There is something “intriguing” about the start of a new season when you have no ideal of what to expect or your team’s identity. Kobe’s return from two major injuries, a new coach, a top draft choice in Randle, Nash’s health & ability, Jeremy Lin, team chemistry, etc., etc, etc. So many unknowns.
Question: is it at least safe to say the strength of this season’s Laker team will be it’s back court? With veterans Kobe, Nash, Swaggy P & Lin leading the way will they be competitive as a group in this current guard oriented league? My concern isn’t on the offensive side, but defense.
Yes, I know we have Clarkson and others, but I’m imagining some combination of the aforementioned group will be on the floor for the vast majority (85%) of crunch time. Defensive schemes are all well and good…but often it comes down to “man to man D”.
Looking forward to answers…
LakeShow4life says
Smart moves signing insurance got both guard spots. Only way Kobe plays out the final 2 years of his contract is with major minute restrictions! Seriously he should sit 20 games ala D-Wade/Ginobili… 36 year old legs with so much wear and tear against the best athletes I the world is a recipe for disaster. Build chemistry live to battle again next year! Large workload for my man Kobe spells doom for the farewell tour. Make no mistake that’s what his contract is. We’re talking 82 games people plus playoffs no way our fine as wine backcourt has any gas in the tank unless other guards play significant minutes.
Ed says
Can`t see Price sticking. Lakers paid 1.8mil for Clarkson, want to develop him,and can even be sent to D League if necessary. A big body might be the 15th man, if he`s also D League material.Boozer has a lot to prove if he wants a big contract next year,want to see how much he has left. Defense and rebounding are the big ? going forward. Let the games begin!
Dencio says
Is Okafor or Bynum still available?
Terri says
Yes, I am also excited about the new season. However, we need to be realistic about our expectations. The Lakers talent is definitely bottom third of the league. That’s why when we gave up multiple 1st rounders for Nash and lost DH for nothing, I knew we were in for a rough stretch at some point. I love the basketball and the Lakers so while its painful to endure losing we are blessed that seasons like last year and the next few are rare for us.
I look at the Lakers this way: Every thing that could go wrong has gone wrong. Bad moves have played out to their logical poor results conclusion. Good moves have inexplicably gone south. So we are due for a change of fortune. By learning from our mistakes so we minimize bad decisions and from sound moves actually producing positive results I believe the Lakers will be relevant again in 2 or 3 years.
Progress for the Lakers will be a journey and as in life you have to learn to enjoy the ride.
Eddie says
Excited that the season is about to get underway. Hoping that the Lakers have good health in camp. My greatest fear is that something happens to Kobe and or Nash before we get into the regular season.
Lots of great story lines heading into the year. I have always gravitated towards young players, so I am very anxious to see how Randle and Clarkson perform. It is so critical that they show signs that they can be difference makers on the court and building blocks for the future.
Oldtimer says
These are good, nimble and young players that could be the face of the future of the Lakers if they pan out. Mostly SG’s and PF in Tyler. I think they are the reserve that will replace Nash and Lin as well as Xavier and Boozer in the long run. However, I pose the same question where are the Centers that will take the place of Pau and Kaman in the middle? A 6’10’ no matter how good he is, still short of 2 inches to compete against McGee, Chandler, DeAndre Jordan, Lopez’es, Dwight, Bogut, Gasol’s. It is good if all of these Centers are as soft as Pau Gasol tho’ not as talented as Pau, unfortunately, our Centers are average and could be classified as 2nd stringers in other teams. That’s given and our excuse is that this is the best we can offer as a rebuilding team. (How come. we don’t translate that when Lakers FO are selling season tickets?) Lakers have two seven footers, Sacre and Kelly, the latter is a stretch four but soft as a marshmallow to turn him into a terror 5; while the other one has a muscular WWF frame but too stiff like hardened pogo stick whose appearance will risk any team into foul trouble. It would take Coach Scott eons to develop them into a poor Bynum or Rambis. It is not too late to find a 7’1″ in Europe or D’League that could help the Lakers in the middle acting as a scare crow sic* or a tap rebounder.
Jack says
Terri: Every thing that could go wrong has gone wrong. Bad moves have played out to their logical poor results conclusion. Good moves have inexplicably gone south. So we are due for a change of fortune.
—
So true about the Lakers. Kind of a flip side of the coin in thinking about the FO, which has been called out on this site many times. Its quite possible that the FO, Jim in particular, could have learned valuable lessons from the last few years. Let’s hope so.
Snoopy2006 says
Don’t get the Price signing. He’s on the same level as Duhon was. If you have high hopes for Clarkson, why not get him as much run as possible? I doubt the FO is delusional enough to think this is a playoff team. I just don’t get the insistence on bringing in veterans to take away young players’ minutes when you’re clearly in a rebuilding phase (even if many fans won’t admit it).
Giving a coach veterans (even useless ones) is like putting a pack of Marlboros in front of a 30-year smoker who quit last week. Coaches can’t help themselves. They almost always give vets the edge *cough* (Del Harris).
BigCitySid says
@ Dencio, Bynum taking the year off in another attempt to get his legs healthy and his career back on track. I for one wishing him well, still young enough to pull it off.
Nova Bahamut says
Okafor and Bynum are still avalible.
Did we invite Alonzo Gee?
Why the hell didn’t we sign Beasley?!?
* Terra Flare *
Vasheed says
I guess never hurts to have shooting but I;m not sure it was the most pressing need.
The Lakers currently look like a near perma small ball line up. I would have ideally pursued a tall athletic foward who could play at PF/SF and hit a 3. I think that would have nicely complimented the players the Lakers have.
As is most of the line ups the Lakers can field will be on the small side. I would have liked to seen a foward like I mentioned signed but the Lakers could go “big” by playing Kelly along with Randle at SF.
Kelly
Randle
Sacre or Davis
Lin
Bryant or Young
Kelly would allow the Lakers to stretch the floor while playing randle at SF. Sacre is the only true traditional center on the Lakers whom I think gets an undeserved bad rep. I can’t believe hes any worse then Mbenga. Or Davis who does have pretty good numbers defending the rim.
There comes a time when as a team you need to be able to play big and I don’t think the Lakers have many line ups that can manage it.
I think these signings are valued only in that they are not guaranteed contracts as Warren said.
Mid-Wilshire says
@ Snoopy2006,
Price’s contract is only partially guaranteed. He may not even make the team. If he does, he’d be strictly an emergency back-up. After the Lakers got burned by the Injury gods last year, especially at the pg position (remember that?), I can understand why they’d be hedging their bets.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a training camp battle between the rookie, Keith Appling (Michigan State, undrafted but not a bad player), and Ronnie Price. But any available minutes during the regular season should probably go to Jordan Clarkson. The Laker brass are high on him (as I am) and, after all, they spent $1.8 million to get him. They’ll probably want their money’s worth.
Now…Wayne Ellington is another matter. He could actually get minutes this season. He can shoot the ball and Byron likes him. We’ll see what hapens.
Ed says
I would like to see a 2nd string of Clarkson,Ellington,Randle,Kelly and Davis. Send them against the starters in camp. If they can get it done on defense,the offensive potential is there. Byron needs to try many combinations,even if most won`t work out in the end.
bryan S. says
Ronnie Price signing is to replace Nash when he goes down–as past is a likely prologue here. Clarkson is a way better talent than Price–easy fellas–rook gonna play.
BigCitySid says
@ Lakeshow4life “Only way Kobe plays out the final 2 years of his contract is with major minute restrictions! Seriously he should sit 20 games ala D-Wade/Ginobili… 36 year old legs with so much wear and tear against the best athletes I the world is a recipe for disaster. Build chemistry live to battle again next year! Large workload for my man Kobe spells doom for the farewell tour. Make no mistake that’s what his contract is. We’re talking 82 games people plus playoffs no way our fine as wine backcourt has any gas in the tank unless other guards play significant minutes.”
1) Spurs & Heat KNEW they had teams talented enough to win w/o Wade & Ginobili during the regular season and still get to the post season.
2) Wade nor Ginobili were their team’s best player. Often not even their 2nd best player.
Agree Scott needs to monitor Kobe’s minutes (30 mpg max) closely, no back to backs, but I really don’t think they can afford for him to sit out 25% of the season.
Craig W. says
The Lakers only really bad coach over the last few years was Brown. Mike D wasn’t a bad coach – IMO – and they really suffered through some enormous injuries – even given the age of their stars. While I don’t think anyone should shout any praises, I really don’t see where all the badmouthing of the front office comes from. If it is the championship or bust mentality – get over it! That so many people simply presume every move or signing is evidence that the front office doesn’t know what it is doing is simply the height of arrogance – or ignorance.
The front office is officially on notice that they must improve over the next several years – yes – but they also aren’t the new ‘Donald Sterling’ either.
Renato Afonso says
Craig W,
I’ve written plenty about Mike D and he was as bad if not worse than Mike Brown. His “system” wasn’t that good and the defensive side of the game was the worst that I’ve seen for a long time. There’s no way around it: the man is a bad coach…
Anonymous says
I had a colleague of mine at work suggest that even if healthy there was no way that Kobe would average 20 points a game. I told him he was crazy. Here’s why:
– Kobe said he would rather retire that just be a 19 PPG scorer. So there is an inner drive that Kobe has that will see him push past 20 PPG.
– While its true that Kobe’s minutes will be limited I think he will be a more productive scorer these next two years. There are some nice scorers on the club: Lin, Young, Boozer and Randle – defenses won’t be able to sag on Kobe as much as in the past. My conclusion is that Kobe will have better looks at the basket.
– Both Nash (when healthy) and Lin like to have the ball in their hands. They’ll help control the offense so Kobe gets the ball in a better position to score. I think Kobe will get a lot of looks at open 3s.
– Kobe won’t feel like he has to go ‘1 on 3’ or ‘1 on 4’ for the Lakers to score.
– I predict Kobe averages 24 PPG in about 30 minutes of playing time.
George says
Anon: I don’t see Kobe letting either PG (Nash or Lin) control the ball. So it will be as if we have two ball handlers on the court. I think this is a good thing because Kobe’s passing is an underrated skill. He’ll set Nash/Lin up as often as they do him.
Young stand to have a great year because if he plays with Kobe he’ll be the one who benefits from a lot of wide open 3’s. And when he plays with the 2nd unit he’ll be the primary scorer.
I think Kobe will play about 32 minutes a game and I agree he will average 24 points a game.
Robert says
George/Anon: I like the 30-32 minutes per game. I would love the 24 ppg. I am not yet ready to give up on the 1 on 3 offense however. Kobe going 1 on 3 results in a lot of double teamed, turnaround, fadeaways. And I live for those.
PS: Just think back to the 1999 – 2004 era. Kobe takes a totally out of control jumper, leaning out of bounds, two defenders in his grill, and plenty of time on the shot clock. Shaq who was wide open underneath looks over at Phil incredulously as KB lets the shot fly. The coach and the iconic center lock eyes as the shot flies towards the basket. Then the shot sails through the bottom of the net, and the crowd goes wild. Phil’s expression never changes, Shaq shakes his head in disgust, and Kobe turns to run down court as if he just hit a layup. This game is Fantastic !
Ed says
I hope the rookies pay close attention to what Kobe says on what to do,and what NOT to do. Not so much on what he DOES on the court. He`s Kobe and they`re not.
Anonymous says
No one is posting – is every one’s comments stuck in moderation?
Craig W. says
Anonymous.
And what, exactly, is there to say?
I say wait until the first practice to start making any more comments.
Craig W. says
Stuck in mod? Of course!!!
Hindi says
Read the transcript of the latest interview with Mitch Kupchak. He is not high on Julius Randle. He clearly said that Boozer is the first option for the team, and that whatever Julius gets, he’s getting after him. Man that saddens me. I know Kupchak gets to see something way more than I do, but I thought Randle’s and Clarkson’s development should be placed above pleasing Boozer and his one year contract.
Chearn says
Rajon injured again. Funny how Allen, Pierce, and Garnett have played more games than Rajon in the past few years.
mud says
Hindi, what Kupchak said was that Randle is a rookie. of course, if the rookie is effective, he will play plenty. it’s not fair to expect him to have Magic Johnson impact from game one.
Fern says
What’s wrong with Mitch saying that Julius has to earn his minutes? That is the truth with rookies, Boozer should start, unless Julius has a training camp/preseason for the ages he is coming off the bench, Boozer despite his age and limitations is a proven veteran player on this league. Randle and Clarkson need to prove themselves first, im high on both but it’s too early to be complaining about minutes. The FO draft them both and are high on them. They are just realist.
Fern says
Kobe freaking Bryant had to prove himself coming off the bench at the beggining…
rr says
Kobe freaking Bryant had to prove himself coming off the bench at the beggining…
What’s wrong with Mitch saying that Julius has to earn his minutes?
—
Kobe joined a team that had just landed Shaq and was trying to contend–a team that had a pretty good 25-year-old shooting guard in Eddie Jones. Plus, of course, Kobe was a non-center coming straight out of high school who had been picked 13th in the draft.
Randle, OTOH, has a year of NCAA experience at one of the biggest basketball schools in the country, played in the Final Four, is joining a team that is not going anywhere, and is playing behind a 33-year-old whose team just cut him and ate his salary.
So, while I can see why they are not publicly handing the PF job to Randle now, if Randle shows half of what some people here think he will, he should be playing ahead of a guy like Carlos Boozer more or less from the jump.
Aaron says
It’s good to give players that extra motivation of earning their keep right away. It gives them an edge from the start which hopefully they will keep for their entire careers. It also gives them the confidence that they “earned it”. Nobody deep down wants to be given anything.
Ed says
We`ve all seen rookies start, get two quick,cheap fouls,and sit for the rest of the half. For the rookies,the refs are going to be just as much a challenge as the opposition. Better to watch the flow,and then come in against bench guys than go against vets as a starter. Get acclimated and prove yourself first,one step at a time.
bryan S. says
Nobody deep down wants to be given anything.
Even Jim Buss . . . .
bryan S. says
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/140923_jimEyen
Nice interview with Jim Eyen, new Laker assistant coach. Learned that he worked under Jerry Pimm, former UCSB head coach. Pimm was my cousin’s coach at UCSB, so I’ll have to ask him if he remembers Eyen.
cactusdave says
With this roster, the Lakers will be unofficially out of the race this year shortly after Halloween. The good news is so will the Celtics.
Byron, needs to just let Kobe jack the joint every night. Put up 35 shots and score as many points as he possibly can. Unless his leg blows up again in which case we’ll be able to finally move on to the next generation of Laker teams.
Spitfire says
@Ed..Price has been impressive since day 1 and the coaches love him. His conditioning is excellent and he is reall a “pitbull”. Dunno if you watched yesterday’s training camp, Price was really impressive. As for Clarkson, i believe he will play 2 more than PG position.