Los Angeles Lakers Blog – Page 104 – NBA Blog

Arena in Anaheim ready, waiting for NBA team

If they renovate it, will the NBA come?

The groundbreaking ceremony outside Honda Center on Wednesday was for a $20 million arena renovation project, which will benefit customers who attend NHL games, concerts and other events in a building that will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

But there also appeared to be a not-so-hidden message behind the carefully staged photo op in which Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli, arena executives and Anaheim politicians wearing yellow hardhats posed with gold-plated shovels:

Let’s show the NBA we’re ready and waiting.

And it’s safe to assume the photos and video already have reached Sacramento and the NBA offices in New York.

It was nine months ago that the Sacramento Kings owners ended protracted negotiations with Anaheim Arena Management, the Samueli-owned company that owns and operates Honda Center for the City of Anaheim, on the morning of the relocation deadline in May.

But Henry Samueli made it clear Wednesday that he remains committed to bringing an NBA franchise to Anaheim, even if it’s not the Kings.

— Reported by Randy Youngman of the Orange County Register

Lakers waive forward Derrick Caracter

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived forward Derrick Caracter, it was announced today.

Caracter, who was assigned to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League on January 25, has played 4 games (1 start) with the D-Fenders this season, averaging 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes.

Selected by the Lakers in the second round (58th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Caracter appeared in 41 games last season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.2 minutes. Caracter was assigned to the Bakersfield Jam twice last season, averaging 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 20.0 minutes in three regular season games. In two playoff games with the Jam, he averaged 7.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.50 blocks in 21.5 minutes.

The 6-9 forward played two seasons at Louisville before transferring to the University of Texas at El Paso, where he averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 games as a junior with the Miners. Ranked as the best player in the country by some recruiting services heading into his senior year of high school, Caracter averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 53 games (14 starts) over two seasons at Louisville. For his college career, Caracter averaged 10.2 points (.560 FG%) and 5.6 rebounds in 80 games (36 starts).

Kobe passes Shaq for 5th on NBA career scoring list

Kobe Bryant

Scoring assassin

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has passed former teammate Shaquille O’Neal and moved into fifth place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

Bryant needed 24 points to pass O’Neal entering Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. O’Neal retired with 28,596 points. Bryant nailed a long jumper late in the first half to give him 24 points.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Lakers coach Mike Brown fined, suspended

Mike Brown

Better listen to Kobe

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for making contact with a game official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 96-87 loss to the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Feb. 4.

Brown will serve his suspension Monday when the Lakers play the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

Rafer Alston signs with Los Angeles D-Fenders in D-League

The Los Angeles D-Fenders have acquired guard Rafer Alston, it was announced today. The acquisition comes one day after Ishmael Smith signed with the Orlando Magic to become the D-Fenders’ fourth NBA Call-Up of the season and the seventh Call-Up in franchise history.

InsideHoops.com first-reported this news late last night on Twitter.

“We’re excited to add a player with as much experience as Rafer to the D-Fenders’ backcourt and believe he will undoubtedly help us continue towards our ultimate goal of an NBA Development League Championship,” D-Fenders Head Coach Eric Musselman said.

Alston, selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (39th overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, has played in a total of 671 career NBA games with Milwaukee, Toronto, Miami, Houston, Orlando and New Jersey, averaging 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 28.9 minutes.

Additionally, the 6-2, 175-pound guard has appeared in 51 career NBA playoff games (34 starts) combined with Milwaukee, Miami, Houston and Orlando, averaging 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.1 minutes. Appearing in all five games during the 2009 NBA Finals with the Magic, Alston averaged 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.4 minutes.

Alston most recently played in China for Zhejiang Guangsha during the 2010-11 season where he averaged 19.6 points and 3.8 assists in eight games.

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NBA ticket prices rise for first time in 3 years

The NBA’s average ticket price increased for the first time in three years, up 1.7 percent to $48.48, the Team Marketing Report said Wednesday in its annual survey.

New York Knicks’ tickets cost more than double the league’s average and five times as much as seats for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Knicks tickets averaged $117.47 after a 32.5 percent increase – and these figures don’t even include premium seats.

The Los Angeles Lakers were second at $99.25 after a 4.2 percent hike, and Boston third at $68.55 while leaving its average flat. Chicago was fourth at $68.37 with a 3.3 percent increase, followed by the Miami Heat at $67 following a 10.7 percent jump.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Lakers may have interest in Ramon Sessions

Ramon Sessions has been traded once in his career and, to hear him tell it, he’s been linked to one rumor or another for the past three years.

So, the Cavaliers point guard was hardly shocked to learn of a Yahoo Sports report that states his club has discussed dealing him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the Cavaliers used the first overall pick to draft Kyrie Irving last June, there’s been speculation concerning Sessions’ future in Cleveland.

“It’s been like that for me for a few years now,” said Sessions, 25, who was dealt to the Cavs from Minnesota in the summer of 2010. “There’s always something with that. [I] haven’t been traded yet. Cleveland now, Cleveland later. I’m not really into all of that.

“I try to block it out. It’s tough at times, but you have to be mentally prepared to play basketball.”

— Reported by Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

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Phil Jackson is writing a book

Phil Jackson’s next title will be on the cover of his new book.

Penguin Press says Tuesday that Jackson, the Hall of Famer who won 11 NBA championships as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, is writing his memoir called “Eleven Rings.”

The book is tentatively scheduled to be out next year.

The 66-year-old Jackson is a 1,155-game winner whose career .704 winning percentage is the best in NBA history.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Kobe Bryant is a Ricky Rubio fan

Rubio has been a revelation for the Timberwolves as their rookie point guard, with Lakers coach Mike Brown pointing out that the athletic NBA game with fewer zone defenses to expose Rubio’s shaky jumper is well-suited for him.

Rubio had flashes Sunday night but shot 2 of 13 from the field, finishing with five points and eight assists.

Kobe Bryant has been impressed by Rubio in the NBA.

“He’s fantastic,” Bryant said. “He has great court vision, great poise.”

About Gasol, though, Rubio had this to say to Joan Niesen of Fox Sports: “A lot of people say that Pau is soft. I can tell you, he’s not. I practiced with him a lot this summer, and he’s tough. I mean, he plays hard, and one of the best things is, he’s a leader. A leader can’t be soft because if not we couldn’t win or get to the silver medal in the Olympic Games.”

— Reported by Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register

Mark Cuban reportedly eliminated from Dodgers bidding race

Blake Griffin

Dunked Kendrick’s face off

The owner of the reigning NBA champions will not be the next owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mark Cuban was eliminated from the Dodgers’ ownership sweepstakes Friday, along with baseball executive and former agent Dennis Gilbert, according to two people familiar with the process but not authorized to discuss it.

At least eight bidders advanced to the second round Friday, including a group led by Magic Johnson and veteran baseball executive Stan Kasten and another headed by local developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre.

East Coast hedge fund giant Steven Cohen, former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke also are believed to have advanced, as well as a joint bid between investor and civic leader Stanley Gold and the family of the late Roy Disney.

— Reported by MCT Wire / Los Angeles Times