Day: August 13, 2012

Lakers re-sign Devin Ebanks, sign Jodie Meeks

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent guard Jodie Meeks, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

In addition, the team has also re-signed forward Devin Ebanks.

Meeks, a three-year NBA veteran, appeared in 66 games (50 starts) last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 24.9 minutes.

An early entry candidate out of Kentucky in the 2009 NBA Draft, Meeks was originally selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (41st overall pick) of the 2009 NBA Draft. The 6-4 guard, who played three seasons with the Wildcats, led the SEC in scoring (23.7 ppg) and was named a unanimous selection to the All-SEC First team during his junior season.

Meeks holds career averages of 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 200 career games (114 starts).

A third year player out of West Virginia, Ebanks was selected by the Lakers in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. The 6-9 forward appeared in 24 games (12 starts) with the Lakers last season, averaging 4.0 points,2.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 16.5 minutes. Ebanks also appeared in three games for the D-Fenders, averaging 18.3 points,6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 32.0 minutes.

Ebanks has career averages of 3.6 points,1.8 rebounds and 0.30 assists in 44 games.

Michael Jordan may lose $1.5 million in Attack Athletics Gym

Michael Jordan stands to lose as much as $1.5 million in a possible foreclosure of a gym he invested in, according to multiple reports.

The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported that a judge recently rejected a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the company of Tim Grover, who owns Attack Athletics Gym on Chicago’s West Side. Grover filed for bankruptcy in April in order to stave off foreclosure, according to the papers, but a judge dismissed the filing on July 11.

Grover’s company, Attack Properties LLC, appealed the ruling, according to the papers, and that appeals process could take a month.

— Reported by ESPN Chicago

Andrew Bynum to have non-invasive knee procedure

New Sixers center Andrew Bynum will head to Germany in early September to have the same experimental procedure on his knee that Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill and Alex Rodriguez have undergone, according to a West Coast source with knowledge of the situation.

Bynum has had surgery on both of his knees. It is unknown whether the procedure will be performed on the one knee or both. According to the source, Bynum’s knees are fine and the procedure is non- surgical.

— Reported by John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer Blog
http://mobile.philly.com/sports/sixers/?wss=/philly/sports/sixers&id=166009876

Lakers will keep Devin Ebanks

Lakers will keep Devin Ebanks

After taking his physical Monday at the Lakers’ training facility, forward Devin Ebanks will sign the Lakers’ qualifying offer that entails a one-year deal worth a little more than $1 million, according to his agent, David Bauman.

The deal doesn’t exactly elicit the same headlines as the Lakers’ acquiring Steve Nash or Dwight Howard this off-season. But it is yet another move the Lakers have made to shore up a bench that finished near the last in the league in scoring.

Ebanks, 23, averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in his second season with the Lakers last year, and earned a few unexpected promotions. He started the season’s first four games at small forward. Ebanks started  five games at shooting guard while Kobe Bryant nursed a left shin injury in the season. And Ebanks started in place of Metta World Peace during his seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City guard James Harden two games before the playoffs.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times (Blog)

Guard Dontaye Draper signs in Spain

The Turkish Airlines Euroleague’s most potent offense last season has put extra speed in the backcourt as Real Madrid on Monday announced the signing of playmaker Dontaye Draper to a two-year contract. Draper (1.80 meters, 27 years old) arrives from Cedevita Zagreb, where he averaged 13.8 points, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 5 Eurocup games last season. Draper helped Cedevita reach both the Croatian League finals and the Adriatic League title game. Draper was chosen as the 2010-11 Eurocup MVP – also earning All-Eurocup first team honors – by leading Cedevita from the Qualifying Round to the Finals.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Quick look at the Wizards

Even though the Wizards added veteran forwards Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, and drafted shooting guard Bradley Beal in the first round of the draft, the Wizards’ success will rely heavily on former #1 pick John Wall. The speedy and electric point guard had a solid second season but he will have to elevate his game even further this season if the Wizards want to stay out of being in the lottery for the fifth straight season.

Wall had a very good rookie season, averaging 16 points and 8 assists but he had almost identical numbers his sophomore campaign. It was not the improvement that was envisioned when he was taken with the top selection in the 2010 NBA draft. By comparison, Chicago’s point guard Derrick Rose — taken #1 in 2008 — took huge leaps each season, especially in his second and third seasons in the league when his average went up from 16 points his rookie season to 25 by the end of year three.

Wall is going to have to score more this upcoming season and he has the potential to do so with his offensive explosiveness, but his jump shot must improve. Wall has been working on his jumper this summer and even hired a shooting specialist to help him find his touch.

— Reported by Frank Hanrahan of CSN Washington