Los Angeles Lakers Blog – Page 67 – NBA Blog

Lakers want LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony in 2014 NBA free agency

The Los Angeles Lakers, whose plan to re-sign center Dwight Howard did not pan out this offseason, are poised to rebuild fast by focusing on the two biggest free agents of 2014 — LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, front-office sources have told ESPN.

Opinions are split on whether the Lakers can actually land James or Anthony, with one source calling it “realistic” and another saying it was “far-fetched at this point.” Nonetheless, the Lakers have made it clear they are positioning themselves for a run at one and perhaps even two of the superstars who could become free agents in 2014 by refusing to commit to any contract past this next season, multiple sources have said.

Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh also have early-termination options on the five-year deals they signed in the summer of 2010. Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Andrew Bogut and Dirk Nowitzki will be unrestricted free agents next summer.

James, of course, is the biggest prize. But unlike in 2009, when James’ free-agency options the following summer were on his mind, sources have told ESPN that James isn’t even considering his 2014 decision yet.

Reported by Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Chris Kaman happy to join Lakers

Chris Kaman excited about joining Lakers

Veteran center Chris Kaman gushed about Mike D’Antoni’s offense that centers on pick-and-rolls at a fluid tempo. Kaman expressed excitement about playing with Kobe Bryant. Kaman offered no preference as to whether he will start or come off the bench.

For all the talent the Lakers lost in Howard going to the Houston Rockets, it appears Kaman’s versatility in the post and team mindset could mitigate Howard’s void and eliminate the drama surrounding his lone season with the Lakers.

“I’m here to do a job. Whatever it is, I’ll do it. It just depends on whatever the coach needs me to do is where I’ll be at,” said Kaman, who accepted a one-year deal at the mini-mid level exception ($3.2 million to play for the Lakers). “I’m confident I’ll get along with coach and have a good relationship. It’s a two way street. But I’m not a controversial kind of guy. So I don’t think it will be that big of a deal.”

Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Dwight Howard says it was tough to play with Kobe Bryant

“Was it tough playing with Kobe?” Howard said in a recent interview with ESPN. “Yeah, it was very tough. But playing along with Kobe didn’t have any parts in my decision going to Houston. I just felt like going to Houston was a better situation for me in my career.”

Howard believes Rockets coach Kevin McHale will feature him in a larger offensive role in the post than Mike D’Antoni would. He believes James Harden will play with more efficiency and better health than Steve Nash would. Howard believes it will be easier leading a team lacking with championship tradition than playing on a team steeped with it but Bryant still controlling the agenda.

“Me and Kobe, we had our disagreements and we had our moments,” Howard said. “Everbody knows Kobe likes to score. There were times we would get at it about getting the ball. That happens as a team. But my focus cannot be on Kobe in what he did. I have to look at myself and say I allowed that situation to happen. I could get those balls and do whatever I want because I’m capable of doing it. I can’t blame anybody else for things I’ve done on the court. I would have to own up to it.”

Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Lakers sign forward Wesley Johnson

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward Wesley Johnson, it was announced today.

Johnson has had a disappointing to start to his NBA career, but he’ll have another chance to prove himself now with the Lakers.

“Wesley is a young, athletic player who runs the floor well and is an excellent defender,” said Kupchak. “He’s a developing player who we think could become a good NBA player for years to come. He’s also a great kid and we’re happy to add him to our team.”

Originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Johnson has appeared in 194 career games (148 starts), averaging 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.1 minutes as a member of the Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns.

A three-year NBA veteran, Johnson averaged a career-high 9.0 points during his rookie season with Minnesota, ranking sixth among rookies in scoring and third in three-point accuracy (35.6 percent). In two seasons with the Timberwolves, Johnson averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 24.6 minutes. Most recently, Johnson appeared in 50 games (21 starts) with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19.1 minutes.

Johnson spent his first two collegiate seasons at Iowa State (2006-08) before transferring to Syracuse, where he helped the Orange to a 30-5 record in 2009-10 and was named a First Team All-American. The 6-7 forward averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his one season at Syracuse, being named Big East Player of the Year and a finalist for the Naismith, John Wooden and Oscar Robertson national player of the year awards.

Kobe Bryant expects to only play for Lakers in his NBA career

Kobe Bryant told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Wednesday that he fully intends to retire as a Laker someday and doesn’t believe there will be any problem securing an extension for as long as he can play at an elite level.

There have yet to be any discussions between Bryant’s camp and the Lakers about an extension, he said, so neither side has any idea yet what type of salary he will command. Bryant is currently the highest-paid player in the league at $30.5 million this season.

“As a businessman the goal is always to not take a pay cut,” Bryant said. “But …”

Reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles

Lakers sign center Chris Kaman

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent center Chris Kaman, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Kaman, a 10-year NBA veteran out of Central Michigan University, has averaged 11.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.38 blocks in 606 career games (510 starts) with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

“We’re pleased to be able to add a big man of Chris’ caliber to the roster for the upcoming season,” said Kupchak. “He’s a versatile center who defends well, goes hard to the glass and can score both in the paint and from mid-range while also being a high character guy and solid locker room presence.”

Originally selected by the Clippers with the sixth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the 7-foot, 265-pound center has scored better than 10 points per game in each of his last eight NBA seasons and is one of only 13 players since entering the league to record at least 7,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 800 blocked shots.

Named to the 2010 Western Conference All-Star team in a season in which he ranked 25th among league leaders in scoring, 14th in rebounding and 23rd in blocked shots, Kaman, a dual citizen of the United States and Germany, was also a member of the German National Team that competed at Eurobasket 2011 and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Appearing in 66 games (52 starts) with the Mavericks last season, Kaman averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in a career-low 20.7 minutes while shooting above .500 from the field (.507) for the third time in his career.

Lakers waive Metta World Peace via amnesty clause

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived forward Metta World Peace and have designated him as the team’s amnesty player as allowed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it was announced by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“It’s tough to say goodbye to a player such as Metta, who has been a significant part of our team the past four seasons. For anyone who’s had the opportunity to get to know him, it’s impossible not to love him,” said Kupchak. “He has made many contributions to this organization, both in his community work as well as in our games; perhaps no more so than in his clutch play in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals in helping to lead us over the Celtics in one of the greatest playoff wins in Lakers history. We thank Metta for all his contributions and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

A 14-year NBA veteran, World Peace averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 75 games last season. Prior to joining the Lakers in 2009, he played with the Rockets, Kings, Pacers and Bulls, averaging 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals over the course of his career.

World Peace, then known as Ron Artest, was named to the 1999-00 All-Rookie Second Team. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, and also was named to the NBA All-Star Team that season, as well as to the All-NBA Third Team. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in both 2004 and 2006, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2003 and 2009. For his off the court accomplishments, he was voted the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner in 2011.

Los Angeles Lakers sign Nick Young

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward/guard Nick Young, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“At 6’7,” Nick’s size, ability to create his own shot and athleticism make him a versatile player who will give our lineup multiple looks on the floor,” said Kupchak. “He’s an exciting player, and we’re excited to have him on our roster.”

A six-year NBA veteran, Young has appeared in 416 career games (122 starts), averaging 11.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 23.1 minutes while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor, 37.4 percent from behind the arc and 82.7 percent from the free throw line as a member of the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.

Young, who averaged a career-best 17.4 points during the 2010-11 season including a career-high 43-point game against the Sacramento Kings (1/11/11), was originally selected by the Wizards with the 16th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

An early entry candidate for the NBA Draft following his junior season at USC, Young earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors his sophomore and junior seasons with the Trojans. Prior to enrolling at USC, the Los Angeles native attended Cleveland High in Reseda, CA where he became a top national recruit after averaging 27.2 points and 10.8 rebounds as a senior.

Most recently, Young appeared in 59 games (17 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.9 minutes.

Lakers re-sign center Robert Sacre

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed Robert Sacre, it was announced today.

Sacre, a 7-foot center out of Gonzaga University who serves as a backup off the bench, was selected by the Lakers in the second round (60th overall) of the 2012 NBA draft. In 32 games (three starts) with the Lakers last season, he averaged 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.3 minutes. Sacre also spent time with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development league during his rookie campaign, appearing in eight games and posting averages of 11.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.33 blocks in 32.8 minutes.

At Gonzaga, Sacre finished his career with the Bulldogs ranked second in school history with 186 blocked shots while averaging 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.38 blocks in 135 games. As a senior, Sacre was named the 2012 WCC Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-WCC First-Team honoree while averaging 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.42 blocks in 26.3 minutes.

Steve Nash expected Dwight Howard to leave Lakers

Even going into their meeting with Dwight Howard to convince him to re-sign, Lakers point guard Steve Nash thought Howard re-signing was unlikely.

“Frankly, I thought before the meeting that we really didn’t have a chance,” said Nash on the “Mason & Ireland Show” on ESPN L.A. (710) on Tuesday. “I’d like to think that after the meeting, we had a chance, but ultimately, I think Dwight wasn’t comfortable here and didn’t want to be here.”

Nash was part of the Lakers’ contingent last week that tried to sway Howard to stay. Instead, the All-Star center chose to join the Houston Rockets as a free agent.

“If he doesn’t want to be here, there’s no point for anyone in him being here, so we wish him the best and move on,” Nash said. “I heard he said to the media that he ever quite felt embraced in L.A. He never quite felt maybe supported, and that’s basically it. In some ways you can read into that what you will.”

Reported by Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times