Los Angeles Lakers Blog – Page 101 – NBA Blog

Jamario Moon named D-League Player of Month for March

Los Angeles D-Fenders forward Jamario Moon was today named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in March. The honor is the first of Moon’s career and the second for a D-Fender this season, with Brandon Costner earning the award for games played in November and December.

Moon (6-8, 215, Meredian Community College), led Los Angeles to an 8-1 record in March, helping the team to clinch the top spot in the Western Conference. During the month, he averaged 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 36.6 minutes. He was the team’s high scorer and rebounder twice last month, scoring in double figures in eight of nine games, including an NBA D-League season-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds in a 117-89 win over the Reno Bighorns on March 28. For the month, he shot 52 percent from the floor, 37 percent from three-point range and 82 percent from the line.

Thirteen additional players earned honorable mention accolades. They include: Austin’s Eric Dawson, Bakersfield’s Renaldo Major, Canton’s Luke Harangody, on assignment from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dakota’s Stefhon Hannah, Erie’s Kyle Goldcamp, Fort Wayne’s Vernon Macklin, on assignment from the Detroit Pistons, Idaho’s Marcus Banks, Iowa’s Mike Efevberha, Maine’s Morris Almond, Springfield’s JamesOn Curry, Sioux Falls’ Trey Gilder, Texas’ Dan Gadzuric, and Tulsa’s Jerome Dyson.

Andrew Bynum suffers left ankle sprain

The Lakers had avoided any substantial injury scares with Andrew Bynum’s fragile lower body in this breakout season for him, but he left late in the first quarter Sunday night with a moderate sprain of his left ankle.

Bynum appeared to turn the ankle when landing on teammate Josh McRoberts’ foot. He limped off the court with 1:49 left in the first quarter with the Lakers ahead by one point and went for X-rays, which showed no fracture. He will be re-evaluated Monday, when the Lakers have the day off before back-to-back games vs. New Jersey on Tuesday and the Clippers on Wednesday.

— Reported by Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register

105-year-old fan Allene Wynn meets Lakers

I don’t know about you people, but when I turn 105 years old I’m probably going to start slowing down a bit, and might consider taking it easy. Sure, I’ll still be doing backflips, going hiking, playing basketball and doing other stuff like that, but will I also have time to keep attending NBA games? I sure hope so. Anyway, check out this story:

Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles reports:

The Los Angeles Lakers might have parted ways with their oldest player when they traded Derek Fisher, but they still have the support of one of their oldest fans.

Allene Wynn of Pacoima, Calif., turned 105 years old this week and celebrated her birthday at the Lakers game against the New Orleans Hornets as a guest of the team.

Wynn was visited by several members of the team outside the locker room before the Lakers’ 88-85 win, including Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

“It just made me feel good all over to meet him in person. I’ve been wanting to meet him for years,” Wynn told ESPNLosAngeles.com about her interaction with Bryant. “I got to touch him. I shook hands with him and hugged him. I said, ‘Wait, let me hug you, baby.'”

Bryant seemed mutually appreciative of meeting Wynn.

“That’s unbelievable, 105 years old,” Bryant said with a smile. “I don’t think this game did anything to relax her.”

Group led by Magic Johnson is buying the Los Angeles Dodgers

A group led by Lakers legend Magic Johnson emerged Tuesday night as the new owners of the Dodgers, ending months of uncertainty for the storied but troubled baseball franchise.

Johnson, who guided the Lakers to five NBA championships during the “Showtime” era of the 1980s, is a partner in the group along with longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten and movie executive Peter Guber. The controlling owner would be Mark Walter, chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a Chicago-based financial services company.

Walter and McCourt met privately in New York on Tuesday, coming to an agreement only hours after Major League Baseball owners approved three final bidders.

The winning group paid $2 billion for the team — a record for a sports franchise — according to an announcement issued jointly with previous owner Frank McCourt.

“I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise,” Johnson said in the statement, adding the new owners “intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section.”

— Reported by Bill Shaikin and David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times

Ramon Sessions loves his new life with Lakers

Now that he’s moved into the starting lineup and now that he’s met Lakers courtside royalty in actor Jack Nicholson, it’s time to ask the $1 million question about new point guard Ramon Sessions.

How do you pronounce his first name?

“Rah-mahn or Ra-mone, it doesn’t matter,” Sessions said.

All right. On to another pressing question: Have you been surprised by your sudden impact on the Lakers?

“I wouldn’t say it caught me by surprise,” said Sessions, acquired March 15 from Cleveland. “It’s something I knew deep down inside if I ever got the opportunity to showcase my skill I knew I could fit in with one of the best teams in the league.

“My career has been kind of like this. I’ve played well. I’ve just been (with teams) like Milwaukee, Minnesota and Cleveland that don’t get much coverage. I know guys in the NBA circle know I can play.

“It’s a dream come true for that trade to go through and be put in this situation.”

— Reported by Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News

Kobe Bryant reportedly dropped $329,000 on a new Ferrari

Looks like Kobe Bryant still has plenty of spending cash, because he just dropped a HUGE chunk of change on a sick new car. Must be nice.

According to our sources, Kobe’s new ride is a Ferrari 458 Italia. We’re told the Black Mamba paid $329,000 yesterday for the car … which he paid for in full with a check.

— Reported by TMZ

Larry Ellison inquires about buying Grizzlies

Californian Larry Ellison, ranked as the third-richest person in the U.S., has inquired about buying the Memphis Grizzlies with apparent hopes of moving the team to San Jose.

But team owner Michael Heisley today downplayed the possibility of a sale — and of a relocation, citing a lease that ties the franchise to Memphis and FedExForum until 2021.

“I can’t downplay it enough. If it happens I’ll be surprised,” said Heisley, a Chicago-based billionaire who added that talks had not become serious. “It’s in the initial stages. We’ve handled this just like we’ve handled several other dozen requests. My situation in Memphis has not changed a lick. My preference will always be for somebody in Memphis to buy the team. There’s not any interest in Memphis. But we’ve always made it known that if somebody wants to buy the team, we’ll listen. If they’re real buyers we’ll probably be sellers. So far there hasn’t been anyone willing to buy the team under my terms and for my price.”

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Lakers recall Darius Morris from D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled guard Darius Morris from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Morris was assigned to the D-Fenders on March 7th and played in one game with the team, helping defeat the Dakota Wizards 99-98 on March 10th. In 28 minutes, Morris totaled a team-high 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting, a rebound, four assists and a steal.

Morris was the third Lakers’ player assignment of the season for the D-Fenders, who at 30-11, currently own the best record in the D-League.

A rookie out of Michigan, Morris has appeared in 13 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.1 assists in 10.3 minutes.

Lakers almost traded for Michael Beasley

The Lakers were seven minutes from acquiring Minnesota forward Michael Beasley, but Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor blocked an agreed-upon three-team trade right before the deadline that would have sent Fisher to Minnesota, not Houston, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The trade also would have involved Portland.

“It was whisker-close,” said the person, who did not want to be identified.

The Lakers responded by quickly sending Fisher to the Rockets, barely beating the noon deadline. They are not expected to re-sign Fisher if he takes a buyout with the Rockets.

Sessions, 25, is a quick penetrator with an unremarkable outside shot. He lost playing time to rookie Kyrie Irving, the top pick in last year’s draft, and was averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 assists but shooting only 39.8%.

— Reported by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times

Lakers trade Derek Fisher to Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired Jordan Hill from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Derek Fisher, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. In addition, Houston will receive the Dallas Mavericks’ protected first round selection in the 2012 NBA Draft that was acquired by the Lakers earlier this season in exchange for Lamar Odom.

A 6-10 forward/center in his third year out of the University Arizona, Hill was originally selected by the New York Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Acquired by Houston as part of a three-team, nine-player trade midway through his rookie campaign, Hill has appeared in 151 career NBA games (18 starts) with the Knicks and Rockets, averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.7 minutes.

Following a junior season at Arizona in which he averaged 18.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and was named Third Team All-America by the Sporting News, Hill declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the Wildcats ranked among the school’s career leaders in points (27th/1,208), rebounds (10th/763), blocks (6th/140) and field goal percentage (.578).

In 32 games (7 starts) with the Rockets this season, Hill is averaging 5.0 points on 50.4 percent shooting from the field and 4.8 rebounds in 14.7 minutes.

Fisher, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, ranks among franchise leaders in games played (5th/915), steals (7th/968), three-point field goals made (2nd/846) and three-point field goal percentage (2nd/.375). Becoming just the 308th player in NBA history to score 10,000 career points on March 13 at Memphis, Fisher has played in 538 consecutive NBA games including 416 consecutive starts, both tops among all active players.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Derek for everything he has meant to this organization over the years,” said Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. “Few who have worn the Lakers uniform have done so with as much class as Derek, both on the court and in the community. From his famous 0.4 shot in San Antonio to his clutch performances in the Finals against Orlando and Boston when it mattered most, Derek will always hold a special place not only in my heart, but in the heart of Lakers fans everywhere.”