Category: Los Angeles Lakers Blog

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Lakers add Avery Bradley via waiver wire

The Los Angeles Lakers have been awarded guard Avery Bradley on a waiver claim, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Per SCNG via the Press Enterprise, “Bradley was cut earlier this preseason by the Golden State Warriors, and he gives the Lakers immediate depth at positions where they’ve seen injuries early on. ESPN reported that Bradley is on a non-guaranteed contract. The 6-foot-2 Bradley played 49 games for the Lakers during the 2019-20 season, starting primarily as the defender on the opposing ball-handler and picking up full-court assignments.”

Bradley returns to Los Angeles after averaging 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 49 games for the Lakers during the 2019-20 Championship season.

Lakers sign Jay Huff to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Jay Huff to a two-way contract.

Huff appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Virginia last season, averaging 13.0 points (.585 FG%, .387 3P%), 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game.

The 2020-21 ACC All-Defensive First Team selection led the conference in field goal percentage (.585) and scored in double figures 18 times last season.

In four seasons at Virginia, Huff averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 101 career games and helped his team win the 2019 NCAA Championship.

Lakers sign Sekou Doumbouya to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Sekou Doumbouya to a two-way contract.

Doumbouya has appeared in 94 NBA games (30 starts) for the Detroit Pistons, averaging 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.3 minutes. Originally drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Doumbouya played 16 NBA G League games (14 starts) for Grand Rapids during the 2019-20 season, averaging 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.0 minutes per game.

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza out after ankle surgery

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza had an arthroscopic debridement procedure performed on his right ankle today.

Team doctors will reevaluate Ariza in approximately eight weeks.

Per ESPN.com, “Ariza returned to L.A. for a second stint with the franchise after winning a championship alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in 2009, signing a veterans minimum contract after being recruited by Russell Westbrook to join shortly after Westbrook was traded from Washington.”

Lakers sign Austin Reaves to a standard NBA contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Austin Reaves to a standard NBA contract.

Reaves originally signed a two-way contract with Los Angeles on August 3, 2021 and appeared in five games for the Lakers at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League, averaging 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 22.2 minutes. In two games at the California Classic, Reaves averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocks in 26.5 minutes.

Reaves appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Oklahoma last season, averaging 18.3 points (.443 FG%, .305 3P%), 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 34.5 minutes. The 2020-21 All-Big 12 First Team selection led the conference in free throws made (147) and ranked fifth in true shooting percentage (.579) last season. In four years at Oklahoma and Wichita State, Reaves averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 34.7 percent (156-449 3FG) from three-point range.

Lakers announce global marketing partnership with Bibigo

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced a multi-year global marketing partnership with Bibigo, a brand by the No. 1 food company in Korea. The partnership will feature the Bibigo logo on the Lakers jerseys beginning with the 2021-22 season.

The global marketing partnership establishes Bibigo as the first international partner ever for the Lakers and will include a large-scale integrated marketing program, including courtside branding (baseline courtside apron and rotational LED signage), social and digital fan focused campaigns.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “the five-year agreement is worth more than $100 million, according to people familiar with the deal but not authorized to disclose its terms publicly.”

And per SCNG.com, “NBA jersey patch deals have averaged $7 million to $10 million per year, according to The Athletic, though Wish reportedly was paying the Lakers between $12 million to $14 million per year, and this one is likely worth significantly more because of a recent change in NBA rules that allows teams to include their logos in overseas business deals. The Golden State Warriors reportedly have the most lucrative deal at $20 million per year with Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten.”

“This partnership is a connection of two ‘global culture icons’ of food and sports, and it is an important opportunity for Bibigo to emerge as a global food brand,” said Wookho Kyeong, CMO of CJ CheilJedang, Bibigo is a global strategic brand of CJ CheilJedang. “We look forward to the opportunities to communicate with consumers and increase the value of the brand through a global common language, sports and the Lakers.”

“The Lakers are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Bibigo as our first ever global marketing partner,” said Tim Harris, President of Business Operations. “As Korea’s leading food brand, Bibigo is always looking for opportunities to innovate and expand their brand, and the Lakers are excited to help them to not only expand their global recognition, but to provide the opportunity to reach new fans.”

Lakers hire David Fizdale and John Lucas III as assistant coaches, and add to training staff

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday hired David Fizdale and John Lucas III as assistant coaches on Head Coach Frank Vogel’s staff, joining assistant coaches Phil Handy, Mike Penberthy, Miles Simon and Quinton Crawford.

The Lakers also hired Roger Sancho as Head Athletic Trainer and named Ed Streit as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Fizdale returns to the bench after serving as head coach of the New York Knicks from 2018-20 and the Memphis Grizzlies from 2016-18. Prior to joining the Grizzlies for his first NBA head coaching assignment, Fizdale spent the previous eight seasons (2008-09 thru 2015-16) with the Miami Heat as an assistant coach. During his tenure in Miami, the Heat won back-to-back NBA Championships in 2012 and 2013, and more Playoff games (70) and series (15) than any other NBA team. The Los Angeles native was an assistant coach for one season in Golden State (2003-04) and for four seasons in Atlanta (2004-08).

Lucas III joins the Lakers after most recently serving as a player development coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017-19. Prior to joining Minnesota, Lucas III enjoyed an eight-year NBA career for the Timberwolves, Pistons, Jazz, Raptors, Bulls and Rockets. He owns career averages of 4.7 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.5 assists in 12.1 minutes. Lucas III played collegiately at Baylor and Oklahoma State, averaging 14.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2004 and 2005.

Sancho most recently spent seven seasons with the Golden State Warriors, including the past five seasons as an assistant athletic trainer. Sancho began his time with the Warriors during the 2014-15 season as the head athletic trainer for the Santa Cruz Warriors. The Sulphur Springs, Texas native earned his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012 and his master’s degree from Baylor in 2014.

Streit was named to his new role after serving as an assistant strength & conditioning coach for the team since the 2019-20 season. Prior to joining Los Angeles, Streit spent the 2018-19 season as the head strength and conditioning coach for Dayton’s men basketball and served in the same role during the 2017-18 season at the University of Connecticut. Streit also spent three-and-a-half years with the Chicago Bulls on their strength and conditioning staff.

Lakers sign DeAndre Jordan

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center DeAndre Jordan, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “the team signed the 33-year-old center and 13-year NBA veteran to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract after he was released by the Pistons and cleared waivers. He’s the latest in a lengthening line of former All-NBA players looking for a championship run on a team loaded with veteran star power. “I had great years when I was with the Clippers. And that franchise was amazing to me. And I appreciate the time I was there, for sure,” Jordan said. “But like I said, I’m focused on now and this team, what our goals are ultimately and what we want to do. And I’m just really excited to be here. This is a great opportunity for me. And I just want to take full advantage of it.”

A 13-year NBA veteran, Jordan appeared in 57 games (43 starts) for the Nets last season, where he averaged 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 21.9 minutes, while shooting a career-best 76.3 percent (190-249) from the field. Jordan is the NBA’s all-time leader in career field goal percentage, having shot 67.4 percent (3527-5234) from the field throughout his career and is the only player in NBA history with multiple seasons shooting over 70 percent from the field.

A one-time NBA All-Star, Jordan has played in 932 games (756 starts) for the Nets, Knicks, Mavericks and Clippers, holding career averages of 9.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.6 blocks in 27.4 minutes. He has appeared in 57 playoff games (all starts) for the Clippers, averaging 9.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Jordan is a three-time All-NBA selection, including one First Team selection (2016) and two Third Team selections (2015 & 2017), and led the league in rebounding in consecutive seasons from 2013-15. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2015 and 2016 and helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.