Lakers Pull off Trade for the Ages

Very seldom does a sports trade in today's social media-crazed society both fly under the radar and stun the entire sports landscape from the players, owners and fans alike. Yet the recent blockbuster trade between the (31-19) Los Angeles Lakers and (26-25) Dallas Mavericks did just that, leaving everyone who caught wind of the deal in utter disbelief even to this day now a week later. Just hours after the Lakers defeated the New York Knicks 128-112 at the famed Madison Square Garden, the Lakers and Mavs agreed to a deal that sent Luka Doncic to L.A. for Anthony Davis. The trade initially surfaced on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, and was immediately assumed to be fake with initial reactions assuming someone had hacked ESPN's account. Once league sources confirmed the trade was in fact legit, the deal sent shockwaves that were unprecedented and unlike anything the NBA or any other major North American sports league has ever seen, marking the first time in NBA history that two reigning All-NBA players were traded for each other in the middle of the season. The trade was so big and so out of left field that it would even steal the spotlight as the talk of the town in the week leading up to the NFL's Super Bowl.

Once the smoke began to clear and we learned more about the trade details, things only got weirder as it was learned that the Lakers were the only team approached by the Mavericks regarding a trade for the 25-year-old Doncic. Dallas GM Nico Harrison says the conversation started weeks ago over coffee between him and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka before materializing and becoming a reality. This would come off as quite the surprise given Harrison who has been made out to be a complete fool, could've possibly gotten a bigger package in return elsewhere, or at the very least gotten other teams involved to create a bidding war to up the ante. It's also hard to believe that there would be a single team in the league that wouldn't at least kick the tires on acquiring a generational talent in the middle of his prime like Doncic. Instead, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made out like a bandit in the night. Also included in the trade were the Utah Jazz. With power forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also landing in L.A., the Lakers shipped guard Max Christie and their 2029 1st-Round Draft pick to Dallas. Meanwhile, Utah received guard Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers as well as 2025 2nd-Round picks from the Mavs and Los Angeles Clippers. The deal was so clandestine that Jazz GM and former Celtics legend Danny Ainge had no idea he was helping a former rival acquire Luka and by the time he got wind of it, it was too late. Who knows whether or not he might've pulled the plug on his team's involvement if he was aware of the trade details and the Lakers reaping the benefits. 

While the Lakers appear to have gotten away with highway robbery in the trade by making out with a player as young and as talented as Doncic, the Mavericks who are just a season removed from winning the West and making an NBA Finals appearance, do stack up very well on paper with the addition of Anthony Davis who now joins a lineup that also includes Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and Quentin Grimes. In acquiring Davis, Mavs GM Nico Harrison had this to say: "I believe that defense wins championships. I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We're built to win now and in the future." However, Mavs fans aren't buying it. Having held boycotts all week outside of the team's arena since the day the trade took place and demanding Harrison to be fired, the Mavericks have begun offering refunds to fans who cancelled their season ticket packages following the trade of their favorite player. But it doesn't end there. The team has had to beef up security for their front office staff due to death threats made by fans. The fact that the Mavs would ship out their best player has left many executives around the league puzzled. But Luka's conditioning or lack thereof is rumored to be one of the main reasons Dallas was willing to move on from him as the team was not exactly sold on committing a super max contact extension worth $345 Million due to his weight, lack of defense and his continuous head-butting with officials. 

Blindsided by the trade, Luka says he heard nothing from the Mavericks ownership or the coaches regarding a potential trade and thought that he would spend his entire NBA career with the franchise that drafted him 3rd overall in 2018. Luka admitted to crying when he got the news and was not the only one taken by surprise as his new teammate and idol LeBron James was out at dinner with his family in New York City when the news came across. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis was getting ready to watch a movie with his wife when the news broke. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd also admitted to being unaware of the situation until the trade was already agreed upon. Former Mavs majority owner Mark Cuban shared a similar sentiment and said he was "confused" about the trade. Luka's father also criticized the Mavs organization for the way they went about the trade that will cost his family a few pretty pennies. Another heartbreaking aspect is the $15 Million mansion that Luka reportedly purchased in Dallas just days before being sent to Hollywood. While he can still sign a 5-year contract extension with the Lakers in the summer, Luka will miss out on $117 Million after the trade as he is no longer eligible for the $345 Million super max extension. 

Elsewhere, Laker fans won't have to think too hard into what life might look like after LeBron James decides to hang 'em up as they now have their new young superstar and a face of the franchise that they can build around. Anthony Davis was expected to be that guy, but with an lengthy injury history and six years older at the age of 31, it's safe to say Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made the right move. NBA's reigning scoring champion from a season ago (33.9 PPG), Luka has made five All-Star Games and has been named to the All-NBA First Team five times already in his young career. In comparison, Davis who is a 10-time All-Star has been named to the All-NBA First Team only four times despite being in the league nearly twice as long as the younger Doncic. The Slovenian-born superstar will be at the forefront of the Lakers' future plans in the franchise's changing of the guard with only two players on the roster over the age of 27 at the time of the trade. Ranked third all-time averaging 28.6 points-per-game throughout his career, Luka is averaging 28.1 PPG on the season and will now be coached by his former Dallas teammate JJ Redick who is in his first year at the helm in L.A. and spent his final NBA season alongside Doncic in 2020-21. Doncic was quick to win over the hearts of fans in L.A. after the Luka Doncic Foundation, which was launched in December, donated $500K to the wildfire relief efforts that devastated much of the area just last month. 

As for Davis who is averaging 25.7 PPG and 12.0 rebounds, his departure from the Lakers will be bittersweet as the often-injured big man had entered the season coming off his best year yet in terms of games played with 76 starts a year ago. A perennial All-Star, Davis was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Team 5-times and was consistently named a finalist for the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award despite never taking home the hardware. AD helped the Lakers capture the NBA title during the Covid-plagued 2019-20 season in his first year with the team after coming over from the New Orleans Pelicans via trade. As shocking as the news was for Davis, he did waive his $5.9 Million trade kicker as part of the deal, giving his new club some flexibility. Unfortunately, Davis did have to leave the game early when making his Mavericks debut after suffering an abductor strain that will keep him sidelined for multiple weeks and might even require surgery. Prior to leaving the court, Davis was off to an impressive start with his new team, scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in 31 minutes. After the trade and before Davis's injury, the Mavericks saw their playoff chances drop to 57.2 percent according to ESPN analytics. Meanwhile, the chances of the Lakers making the playoffs jumped to 96.5 percent. Adding insult to injury, the final grades given by ESPN for each team's involvement in the trade included an F for the Mavs, a B for the Jazz and an A for the Lakers. 

While time will tell who the ultimate winner of the trade will be, all early signs are pointing to the Lakers who have once again relied on acquiring superstar talent via the trade market. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are just a few names that come to mind who have landed with the Lakers via trade over the course of history and have made quite the impact. Luka is the latest player who will have a shot at cementing his legacy and forever etching his name into Laker lore. 

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Lakers Add former All-Star Drummond for Playoff Push

The defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers have had a rough go around with injury issues in 2021, much to be expected due to the quick turnaround and shortened offseason following the team's title run back in October. With just 72 days in-between seasons, the shortest offseason in the history of the four major sports in the United States, it's no surprise that many of the league's best players have fallen victim to the injury bug at one point or another. And no team has felt that wrath worse than the defending champs themselves. As the NBA trade deadline came and went on Thursday without the Lakers making any noise, the team was fortunate enough to strike gold elsewhere on the free-agent market. 

With teams jockeying for position in the NBA arms race, the Lakers, standing at a record of 30-17, received some much needed help with the acquisition of All-Star center Andre Drummond just in time for their upcoming playoff push. Acquired on Sunday after clearing waivers just days after the trade deadline, Drummond spent nearly eight seasons in Detroit where he was named to an All-Star team twice, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Drummond's services became available after his contract was bought out by the Cavs who decided to sit the former 9th overall pick in favor of devoting more playing time to the younger Jarrett Allen as Cleveland enters yet another rebuild. But like the saying goes: one team's trash is another team's treasure. In need of another interior presence to ease the load off of last year's 6th Man of the Year in Montrezl Harrell and 10-day contract recipient Damian Jones who have both been summoned to fill the void left by Marc Gasol who had missed nine games while battling COVID issues, Drummond will be called upon to start at center and should be able to contribute right away. Especially in the absence of superstars LeBron James (high ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (right calf injury), who have missed 5 and 19 games, respectively. Since Davis' absence on February 14, the team has been on somewhat of a freefall, dropping 10 of 19 games and falling from the Western Conference's top seed to the fourth seed. With James out for at least another two to three weeks and no timetable set just yet for Davis' return, the Lakers need help outside of the usual suspects i.e. Kyle Kuzma and Dennis Schroeder and they need it now to stay afloat in the extremely competitive Western Conference. 

Having sat out since February 12, Drummond will need to get his feet back underneath him after averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 25 starts before his benching and ultimately his release from the Cavs. Drummond has led the league in rebounds on four separate occasions and has finished in the top 2 for seven straight seasons, while also leading all centers in steals over the past 4 seasons. The former UCONN product also does a superior job on the offensive boards, having led the league in offensive rebounds in each of the last 7 seasons. Another strong point of his is second-chance points which Drummond has led the league in five times. As for this season, although a small sample size, Drummond is second in the league in rebounds per game, behind only Atlanta's Clint Capela, and third in offensive boards per game with 4.0. A stat the Lakers and head coach Frank Vogel will surely welcome with open arms as they currently rank 9th in the league in rebounding, but just 17th in offensive rebounds. With a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the lineup and the addition of Drummond, the Lakers should see their chances of defending their NBA title catapult back to the top. With the 7th-highest career rebounding average in NBA history (13.5), the newest Laker will make his team debut with the purple and gold tonight at 7pm when they take on the (29-17) Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center in L.A. 

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Back on Top, Lakers Reign in Rollercoaster Season

For the first time since 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers are atop the basketball world as NBA Champions. After beating the Miami Heat 4 games to 2 in a best-of-seven series,  the Lakers claimed their seventeenth NBA title in franchise history, tying the arch-rival Boston Celtics for the most all-time. But unlike those 33 other titles won by Celtics and Lakers teams of the past, this year's champion was unlike any we've ever seen before. Even those teams that featured such all-time greats as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, or even Kobe and Shaq just to name a few, never had to play through a global pandemic and go through the gauntlet of the unknown by competing in the NBA's bubble like these Los Angeles Lakers did. Having to sacrifice normal everyday life as well as time at home with their families and even home-court advantage, the purple and gold proved to be much more than just a team, but rather a band of brothers and a true family under first-year head coach Frank Vogel's tutelage. 

Spearheaded by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers proved to be the most resilient team in the league after fighting thru the untimely and tragic death of Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, not to mention not one, but two stoppages caused by the novel corona virus and the social injustices that have plagued our country. Despite it all, the Lakers fulfilled their mission of bringing home another Larry O'Brien Trophy and concluded their 95-day stay in the NBA bubble as world champions. Even before the earth-rattling passing of arguably the most beloved Laker of them all in Kobe Bryant, the Lake Show were deemed 'championship or bust' this year, following the blockbuster trade that sent superstar Anthony Davis from the Big Easy to Tinsletown. The death of the Lakers legend in January would only add to the immense pressure of winning a title in 2020 as the team was suddenly left with a cloud of unfair expectations hovering over them. But never once did the team let those lofty expectations get the best of them, instead they used them to fuel their inner-fire and drive to a championship. Something not many of these Lakers had accomplished outside of James, Danny Green, Rajon Rondo, Quinn Cook and JaVale McGee. That meant first-time champions Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Alex Caruso and Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, just to name a few, all needed to pitch-in and contribute. 

Title No. 17 was also very different from the previous sixteen in the fact that it was the first title the team won in Los Angeles under the reign of controlling owner Jeanie Buss, daughter of the late Dr. Jerry Buss who passed away in 2013. With Jeanie picked as the chosen one out of Dr. Buss' six children to take the throne and oversee the Lakers franchise in his absence, Jeanie took what her father taught her about operating a franchise and ran with it, hand-picking Rob Pelinka as the team's general-manager and becoming the first female team owner to win a title in NBA history. After the team snapped its agonizing seven-year playoff drought, the longest in franchise-history, the team then put an end to its ten-year Finals drought in grand fashion. Since the turn of the millennium, the Lakers have now won NBA titles to start each of the last three decades with championships in 2000, 2010 and now 2020. Considering where the franchise was just two years prior, filled with turmoil both on and off the court and failing to attract the All-Star talent that the team and its fanbase has grown accustomed to signing over the years, this year's Lakers team was a far cry as they finally broke through thanks to the stellar work done by GM Rob Pelinka. 

After getting LeBron James to buy-in and make the switch from the Eastern Conference and his hometown team Cleveland Cavaliers during the summer of 2018 via free-agency before realizing the young crop of talent around him was not best suited to play alongside the king, Pelinka worked his magic by practically trading the farm for another superstar in Anthony Davis. Re-signing point-guard Rajon Rondo and bringing in center Dwight Howard for a second stint with the Lakers, often off the bench, as well as hiring a hungry, defensive-minded head coach in Frank Vogel, proved to be the active ingredients needed to get this team back to their title-winning ways. In his seventeenth NBA season, the 36-year old LeBron James who won his fourth career NBA title and fourth career Finals MVP, delivered on his promise to Laker fans that he'd help right the ship and get this once proud franchise back to prominence. With the Miami Heat making their first Finals appearance since 2014 when James was still a member of the team alongside close friends Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, James nearly averaged a triple-double against his former team on his way to becoming the first player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP with three different franchises. 

Flying home to L.A. on Monday before being met by duel firetrucks on the tarmac and some several thousand fans, the Lakers had their fair share of fun and bubbly inside the team's locker room, but will have to wait on celebrating with the rest of Laker Nation and the city of Los Angeles, at least for now while L.A. County and the state of California still currently face strict social distancing guidelines that discourages large gatherings, something this Laker team will undoubtedly attract once they're able. As for the upcoming 2020-21 season ahead, not much is known regarding the NBA Draft, the NBA Summer League, whether there'll be fans in attendance or even whether or not it'll take place in another bubble. One thing that is known, however, is that the Lakers will need to strike a deal at the executives table with free-agent to-be Anthony Davis, who will certainly break the bank, most likely returning to the Lakers who can offer him a max-contract. Other notable Laker free-agents include Dwight Howard and Markieff Morris, as well as Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Avery Bradley whom all have player options.  

As for the legacy and ever expanding resume of one LeBron James, here's a piece I did pre-bubble on his bid for all-time greatness. 

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LeBron, Lakers Poised to Return with sights on an NBA Title

With a return to the NBA season fast approaching and players and teams finally setting up shop in the "bubble" that is the enclosed environment in Orlando, Florida in which those participating will spend the next few months living, practicing and playing all games, sports fans will be relieved when the league's tips-off its return on July 31. All but eight teams have been invited and will resume the 2019-20 NBA season that came to a screeching halt and was suspended over four months ago back on March 11, following the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic that has since then taken the world by storm and rock the nation. These are unprecedented times that both the league and its players have never before encountered, and because of that, we're likely in store for a finish that will be unlike any we've ever seen and might not ever see again.

At the time of the league's stoppage, the Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) and Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) were at the top of their respective conferences in the NBA standings with the Lakers as the odds on favorite to win it all. And while those odds have not slipped thru the grasp of the Lake Show despite the layoff, one thing that could greatly change and witness a rise in stock if the Lakers were to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year, is the legacy of one LeBron James. With James already in the discussion of the game's all-time greats, many believe it's become a two-man debate between LeBron and his airness -- Michael Jordan. While LeBron's legacy continues to be etched, some pundits have ruled out James entirely and believe he's incapable of ever catapulting his way passed MJ for the top spot regardless of what he does from here on out, often pointing to the handful of Finals defeats LeBron has suffered throughout his career as his record stands at 3-6. But by the same token, those Finals appearances have to hold some water and stand for something as he's one of just six players to ever appear in eight straight NBA Finals, joining five players of the 1960's Boston Celtics. And while it might not be the be all end all defining achievement that allows LeBron to leapfrog Jordan for the title as the G.O.A.T., winning a championship in this pandemic-stricken season would certainly be a major feather in James' cap and would help strengthen his case tremendously.

As legendary as Jordan's career was, he never had to overcome an obstacle quite like the one created by the novel Corona Virus that has continued to cause more trouble than any opponent on the hardwood ever has. With home-court advantage no longer a factor, pre-game and post-game routines as good as gone and even something as simple as sleeping in ones own bed out of the picture, times are strange for today's NBA player as those leaving the bubble or those seen roaming about without a mask or face covering open themselves up for criticism, a fine, or even suspension as LeBron's Laker teammate Dwight Howard can vouch for. Howard who was seen congregating without a mask on, fell victim to the league's anonymous tip hotline earlier this week, a hotline put in place for players and league staff to report any wrongdoing committed by those in the bubble who aren't following the league's safety guidelines. LeBron and the Lakers have already lost one teammate caused by the pandemic in point guard Avery Bradley, citing health and safety concerns and can ill-afford to lose another. Not to mention point guard Rajon Rondo who will be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks while nursing a fractured right thumb suffered during practice just days into the team's arrival. Barring another stoppage caused by the virus, King James, as determined as ever after narrowing the gap and making strides in catching Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP race, will either have yet another chink in his armor or one more notch under his belt come seasons end.


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Kobe Bryant: Remembering a Legend

Sunday, January 26, a day that was supposed to be like any other Sunday, minus the week off from football as the NFL prepares for Super Bowl Sunday just one week away. With no Sunday football to wake up to for the first time in 20 weeks, there was simply no alarm clock needed as I managed to get some rest and sleep in. Unbeknownst to the shocking news that I would wake up to just moments later, the text messages began pouring in from family members and friends alike, followed by an alert from my ESPN app: "12:04pm - NBA legend Kobe Bryant among five people killed in helicopter crash in Calabasas, California."

At first glance upon opening the texts and reading the alert while still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I thought, "that can't be right." Less than 24 hours earlier while taking on the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James passed Kobe for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, which James honored Kobe in his hometown of Philadelphia with a pair of customized sneakers that included a handwritten message that read, "Mamba 4 Life". In the visiting team's locker room, LeBron would give a post-game interview and answered a number of Kobe-related questions after being asked what it meant to move up the list of the game's all-time scorers while passing an NBA great and Laker legend like Kobe Bryant. James would share a number of stories, including the first time he met Kobe while attending a basketball camp as a teenager where he was gifted a pair of sneakers from the Mamba himself. And despite them being a full shoe size smaller, LeBron wore them anyway. Kobe took to Twitter to congratulate LeBron on his achievement with a short message that read, "Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644." Little did we know it would be the last interaction between the two and the last time we'd hear from Kobe.

For me, a kid born in the year 1990 that grew up a Lakers fan and was fortunate enough to watch Kobe straight out of High School from the beginning of his career to the end, the man was not only an icon, but a global ambassador for the game of basketball. Serving as the transitional piece alongside his former teammate and good friend Shaquille O'Neal that helped bridge the gap following the Michael Jordan era, Kobe Bryant who entered the league at the tender age of 18, was the quintessential rock star from a basketball sense. Unlike Jordan who I only remember during his second stint with the Bulls and towards the twilight of his career, Kobe was the Jordan of my childhood and my hero. From having his own video game that I would play as a child for hours on end to his own sneakers and fashion line that I would beg my parents to buy me, Kobe Bryant was larger than life and is perhaps even more recognizable overseas than he is here in the States. Possessing a work ethic unlike any other, Kobe Bryant was the ultimate competitor, even greater than that of Jordan. And like Jordan who Kobe drew so many comparisons to and admits he molded his game around, Kobe was a player that brought the best out of everyone he faced on a basketball court. Whether you were a fan of his or you hated his guts for the sole reason that he likely ripped the heart out of your team on multiple occasions on the scoreboard and in the box score, chances are he had you glued to the TV in one way or another.

Having been a sports fan for my entire life, I can truly say that I've never followed someone who was so obsessed with something the way Kobe was with basketball. But as much as Kobe needed basketball, basketball needed Kobe just as much if not more. Having inspired an entire generation of athletes, not one player in the NBA today would admit that Kobe didn't inspire them or their game in some way, shape, or form. Whether it was a move they saw Kobe make in a game, or the way he handled himself on the court with a focus and a hunger for success unlike any before him which coined such phrases as "Mamba Mentality" and "Kobe System," chances are Kobe made an impact on each and every basketball fan and player out there over the last two decades. Kobe is a household name that is as synonymous with the game of basketball as well as any we've ever seen, so much so that his jersey numbers: 8 and 24, both of which retired by the Lakers, line up with two of basketball's most basic rules in the 8 Second Violation and the 24 Second Shot-Clock Violation. This allowed for the many NBA teams that were in action on Sunday to pay tribute to Bryant just hours after the tragic news broke as teams began purposely committing these violations, simply as a salute and a thank you to one of their very own. Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban, whom Kobe never played for in his entire career, had his own way of honoring Bryant and released a statement Sunday evening praising Kobe's legacy and saying that the number 24 will never be worn again by a member of the Mavs.

Sadly, the 41-year old Kobe who was beloved by fans and meant so much to the Los Angeles community, was not alone on that helicopter that came crashing down and killed more passengers than initially reported. Among the eight others that were on board and killed in the accident was Bryant's 13-year old daughter, Gianna. A prodigy under her dad's tutelage, Gigi was expected to be the next big thing in women's basketball. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see when her time on the hardwood came calling, almost as an extension of Kobe who basketball fans, myself included, dearly miss seeing on a basketball court. Sadly, she was taken from us before her basketball legacy could even begin and before she was able to continue that of the family's. Among the game's all-time greatest players, Kobe in the public eye was even greater at being a father. I could sit here and talk about the many accolades and accomplishments that Kobe achieved on the court, but that would likely take all night and considering I have to be up for work in a few hours, that's probably not a great idea.

This photo was taken exactly three years ago to the day, the last Laker game I had attended prior to this season and of course donning the jersey of my all-time favorite basketball player and one of my favorite athletes ever. When you follow ones career and become as big a fan of someone like I was with Kobe, you begin to feel as if you knew that person on a personal level. And though that's not the case as I was merely a fan, I still feel like I've lost a close friend.

Rest in Peace.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Lakers pull trigger, Trade for Anthony Davis

For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a major splash during the NBA offseason by reaching an agreement to acquire the most coveted piece available on the market. While it was the acquisition of LeBron James that took the league by storm and shook the landscape of the league's signature franchise last season via free-agency, this time around it was a move made by trade that enabled the Lakers to acquire their newest member just days after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Joining James and company in Tinseltown for the upcoming 2019-20 NBA season will be six-time All-Star and former first overall pick Anthony Davis who was acquired over the weekend from the New Orleans Pelicans. Though pairing LeBron with the talented 26-year old big man is the latest step in the Lakers' efforts to end their longest postseason drought in franchise history, it didn't come cheap as they certainly paid a hefty price in return.

In exchange for the three-time All-NBA swingman, the Lakers sent a package deal to the Big Easy that included PG Lonzo Ball, SF Brandon Ingram, SG Josh Hart and three first round picks, including the No. 4 pick in next week's Draft. Add those names and picks to a roster that already includes former Laker Julius Randle and All-Star guard Jrue Holiday and will soon add Duke sensation and consensus No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, and the Pelicans appear to have themselves a nice little squad of their own. The deal which can't be made official until July 6, is a major win for a Pelicans franchise that would've seen Davis walk via free-agency following the 2019-20 season otherwise. While the Lakers did ship off many of their young assets, they did however manage to hang onto forward Kyle Kuzma who has easily been the most productive player among L.A.'s young core over the past two seasons and was initially believed to be one of the main pieces the Pelicans were asking for in the package deal. And as if the Lakers weren't already in win now mode given the window is closing more rapidly than ever for James who will be entering his age 35 season and the second year of his 4-year, $153.3 Million dollar pact with the team, the addition of Davis coupled with a pair of key injuries suffered by the Warriors' Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson could result in a major shift in power out West.

While the race for Anthony Davis appeared to be only a three-team race between the Lakers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, L.A. proved to be the only team with enough ammunition willing to pull the trigger. While the Knicks simply didn't have enough assets to garner the Pelicans' attention, Boston's unwillingness to include the promising young talent of Jayson Tatum made the Lakers' offer the most attractive as they eventually came out as the winners in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. However, the Lakers' reloading phase won't stop there as they'll now focus their attention on acquiring another possible max-contract player with such names as Kemba Walker and Kyrie Irving leading the charge. Or could it be someone who's slipped under the radar like Jimmie Butler? While it remains uncertain who will be joining LeBron and Davis in the purple & gold for the upcoming season, one thing that is certain is that newly hired head coach Frank Vogel's Lakers team saw their stock rise just moments after the trade news broke, as they currently sit as the odds on favorite to win the NBA title next season at 7-2 according to the Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas.

But for now, the trade serves as some long awaited good news for Lakerland following a tumultuous season both on and off the court for the once proud Lakers organization that has had its fair share of bumps and bruises and has been rather out of wack over the past 6 months. From the botched trade to land A.D. down the stretch before the NBA trade deadline that sent the team into a downward spiral, to the firing of head coach Luke Walton, to the very publicized rocky relationship between front-office officials which ultimately led to Magic Johnson stepping down and resigning from his position as the team's president of basketball operations, and everything in between.


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Lakers Back on Track in LeBron's Return

In his first season out west with the Los Angeles Lakers, 34-year old LeBron James has proven that he's still among the best players in the NBA if not still the top dog in a league that favors fresh legs and young talent. After helping turn around what's been a struggling Lakers franchise for the last five years and morphing them into a playoff caliber team in his first campaign with the Lake Show, a groin injury suffered in the Christmas showdown against the defending champion Golden State Warriors would sideline James for five weeks. Missing a whopping 17 games, the Lakers would log a record of 6-11 in James' absence while watching their stock plummet from being the fourth place team in the Western Conference to the ninth. But after returning from the longest hiatus of James' career due to injury, all things were suddenly right in the world again as L.A. who entered the night with a record of 26-25 on the season, picked up right where they left off before their team captain was bitten by the injury bug.

In his return, James who appeared rather hesitant at times and perfectly fine at others, shook off the cobwebs to score a game-high 24-points and amass 14-rebounds and 9-assists, falling one assist shy of a triple-double. Showing signs of rust early on, the deeper the game went on, the better LeBron looked in a game that he wasn't expected to play in and was initially ruled out of before arriving to the arena and expressing to both the coaching staff and medical staff how good he felt. Needing all the help his team could get as point-guard Lonzo Ball (ankle) and power-forward Kyle Kuzma (hip) have also recently missed time with injuries, Lakers head coach Luke Walton welcomed the thought of having James return to action and didn't hesitate to pencil him into the starting lineup just hours before tip-off. With ground to make up in the playoff race and facing a Clippers team that entered the day with a two-game cushion over the Lakers for sole possession of the No. 8 seed, Walton's team could ill-afford losing to the team they share a building with and are currently chasing.

What appeared to be an easy win for the Lakers who entered the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead, quickly shifted into a back and forth melee that saw the Clippers storm back to score seven unanswered-points in the final 1:49 of regulation to force the game into overtime. It would be in the extra period where LeBron took control of the game like the floor general he's been known to be, as all 11-points in OT were either scored by James or were scored off his play-making ability. LeBron who played a less than ideal 40-minutes in his first game back, would receive some help from Lance Stephenson who poured in 20-points off the bench, including five 3-pointers as the Lakers managed to escape with the 123-120 victory. A crucial five-game road trip is what lies ahead for the Lakers including their first test in the Bay Area on Saturday night against the Warriors who will be showing off their newest toy in DeMarcus Cousins who also recently returned from injury after missing the first three months of the season. With stops in Indiana, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta to follow, getting LeBron back couldn't have come at a better time, but the pressure will only increase for LeBron and company to rise to the occasion and make up for lost time as they look to reestablish their position in the playoff hunt with the All-Star break on the horizon and just 30 regular season games remaining.

As the February 7 NBA trade deadline approaches, we'll see whatever help if any the brain trust of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka decide to acquire for LeBron and coach Walton. One name that has already hit the airwaves and has gained traction among Laker fans and officials alike, is Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis who recently asked to be traded. Though he'll definitely require a hefty return if Lakers brass decide to pull the trigger for his services.

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

LABron: The Unfriendly Welcome

It's official, LeBron James is a Los Angeles Laker. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the one they call, "King James" would don the purple and gold. But that's not to say I'm not excited. Hell, this is the most excited I've ever been for a free-agent signing in all the years I've been a Laker fan. If only all of Laker Nation felt the same way. In the first week of the news breaking that LeBron had agreed to a four-year, $153.3 Million dollar deal to bring his talents to Hollywood, choosing L.A. over several teams with much more fortified rosters than that of L.A.'s, the most scrutinized player in NBA (and quite possibly sports) history, has already received a whirlwind of feedback in and around Los Angeles and it's not all positive.

Shortly after breaking Twitter by announcing his decision, local artists and fans welcomed LeBron with numerous billboards and a detailed mural that showcased LeBron in a Laker uniform that read, "King of L.A." Unfortunately, the mural would be vandalized just two days later as someone defaced the piece of artwork with, "We don't want you", as well as "3-6", referring to LeBron's record in the NBA Finals. Worth noting and for those keeping score at home, is those three NBA titles LeBron has been apart of, despite the sub-par record overall, are three more titles than the Lakers have won during that time span. Then again I doubt that's something the coward who had the gull to damage such a fine illustration would know. In fact, the person who vandalized the mural probably couldn't name more than two players on the roster and probably still hopes to wake up one day to find Kobe Bryant full-body cast and all, magically appear on the roster. But I'm not here to tell you that the logic of Laker fans isn't the greatest, because we know that already. That much is evident every time the Lakers add a banner to the crowded rafters of Staples Center as the fans celebrate by tipping cars, looting businesses and setting the city ablaze.

Sadly, the misinformed vandal isn't the only one who feels this way as I've seen my fair share of disgruntled Laker fans on Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks who are none too pleased that their favorite team just landed the best player on the planet. Most of whom have a hatred for LeBron which stems from their loyalty to Kobe who just so happens to be not only my favorite Laker of all-time, but also my favorite NBA player of all-time. But I'll be the first to tell you that ship has sailed and that Kobe, as great as he was, is just another retired player who's waiting to hear his name enshrined into the Hall of Fame. However, I also use common sense and know that when the greatest player of his generation joins a struggling organization that is experiencing its worst playoff drought in franchise history in the prime of his career, I welcome that move with open arms. Not to mention anybody that's watched a lick of Lakers basketball over the past five years, knows just how much of a dumpster fire this team has become, both on and off the court.

As if their combined record of 126-284 over the last five seasons hasn't been a cause for concern as of late, their recent inability to land marquee players on the free-agent market should do the trick. With that said, landing the 33-year old James is a huge win for the organization and its fans. Before the James signing, the Lakers whiffed on such free-agents as LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and Paul George, and also witnessed players like Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Demar DeRozan, all of whom are from the L.A. area, re-sign with their current clubs. That's not to say the Lakers would've been the favorite to land either name, but seeing players scoff at the idea of playing ball in southern California is not something Laker fans have grown accustomed to seeing over the years. Then again, times have changed and the NBA is now a league where guys would rather play alongside their best friends to form "super teams" opposed to wanting to be looked upon as the guy who brought his team a title. Both of which are narratives LeBron is quite familiar with considering he helped birth the "super team" trend with his decision to head to Miami to team up with besties Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010 before returning to Cleveland in 2014 and delivering the city its first championship in 52-years just two seasons later.

Just three seasons removed from their worst record in franchise history (17-65), the Lakers should be in store for the biggest record turnaround in the NBA this coming season and should be exciting to watch as LeBron will try and help speed up the development of L.A.'s young cast of players. As it stands, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart are some of the young players that will join James as head coach Luke Walton's Laker team hopes to build upon their 35-47 record from a year ago, an increase of 9-wins from the previous season and 18-wins from 2015-16. Along with James, the brain trust of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka stayed busy on the free-agency front by bringing in Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee as well as re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all on one-year deals. All of which were moves Johnson and Pelinka made after consulting with James, which means he was on board with bringing in a former nemesis of his in Stephenson. It also gives you the impression that both sides are in this for the long-haul and that this coming season will likely be a rebuilding process in the ever-increasing powerhouse that is the NBA's Western Conference. Something that we aren't used to seeing from a team led by LeBron James, further proving that his latest decision wasn't just about himself and his basketball legacy, but also for his family. And for this reason I can admit to finally rooting for King James and why other Laker fans should give the guy a chance like I've decided to. Besides, if the fans in Cleveland can no longer hate him for departing the city he grew up just a stones throw away from for a second time now after delivering them a long-awaited title, Laker fans have no reason to gripe at his arrival.

Before the other signings were made official, the seismic move of adding LeBron alone automatically gave the Lakers the third-best odds to win the 2019 NBA Finals according to odds makers, which is quite impressive considering they've witnessed the playoffs from the comfort of their own home in each of the past five seasons. Unfortunately, those chances took a hit shortly after as the reigning champion Golden State Warriors reloaded their already stellar roster with the signing of All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. As for LeBron's legacy, the man could retire today and would still finish his career with nine NBA Finals appearances (including eight straight), that's more than most NBA franchises have under their belt. If he never played another game he would be regarded as one of the game's all-time greats, whether you have him in front of or just behind Michael Jordan for that top spot. But if anything can help catapult James over MJ in the discussion of who's the greatest to ever step foot on the hardwood, it would be helping revive the dying carcass that has been the Lakers franchise into winners again. Something he'll have at least four years to do and something the fans and naysayers alike will be keeping close tabs on.

Oh yeah and by the way, the mural was fixed just hours later.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Lakers Fulfill a Dream, Draft Lonzo Ball

With the 2017 NBA Draft officially in the books, the Los Angeles Lakers are one step closer to finishing their rebuilding process and competing for an NBA title, or at least they hope. After landing the second overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery for the third consecutive year, the brain trust of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka made UCLA point-guard Lonzo Ball the newest member of the Lakers. Chosen as the first player under the Lakers' new regime, Magic is putting all of his eggs into Lonzo's basket in hopes of him being the new face of the franchise a season after the former UCLA Bruin helped lead the program to the Sweet 16 and compiled the most assists in a single-season in UCLA history as a one and done freshman.

Though its been widely speculated that many including Lonzo's outspoken father LaVar Ball saw the pick coming months ago, nothing was set in stone until NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced L.A.'s selection on Draft night Thursday evening. Despite the rumor of it being a foregone conclusion that the Lakers would take Ball, Magic and company still did their due diligence by working out other players and at least listening to trade offers. Not to mention a few boulders needed to be shifted along the way to make room for their "new leader" as Johnson called him. Having grown up in Southern California and playing collegiately just a stones throw away from his new home in Staples Center, Lonzo did take a gamble by working out exclusively for the hometown Lakers. And though he would consider working out for other clubs once the Lakers announced they had sent out invites to several other players in the Draft, the Lakers remained the only team he would meet with after both parties scheduled a second workout which solidified L.A.'s decision and proved to pay dividends for the 19-year old Ball. 

Having drawn comparisons to future Hall of Fame point-guard Jason Kidd, the Lakers are getting an elite passer who is dynamic in transition and is an excellent shooter, something Kidd was not. When comparing their college numbers, Ball shot a 73% field goal percentage from within the three-point line compared to Kidd's 54% at Cal Berkeley. He also had him beat from behind the arch as Ball shot 41% from three compared to Kidd's 33%. So if Lonzo can pan out to be a better shooting version of Jason Kidd, I'd say the Lakers made out alright and have their leader Magic coveted.

If Lonzo can succeed in a Laker uniform, he'll deserve all the praise in the world as he enters the league with lofty expectations set by the constant chatter and sound bytes from his loudmouth father, coupled with playing under the bright lights of his hometown in L.A. And then there's the void left by the now departed D'Angelo Russell who the Lakers decided to trade in order to make room for Lonzo. Two days prior to the Draft, the Lakers packaged Russell who was selected second overall just two years ago and the expensive contract of Timofey Mozgov to Brooklyn in exchange for center Brook Lopez and the 27th Pick in Thursday's Draft which they would then use to select power-forward Kyle Kuzma out of Utah. While critics and fans alike praised the move which now free's the Lakers of Mozgov's terrible four-year, $64 Million dollar contract, they also expressed their disappointment in the Lakers' front-office for giving up on Russell so early into his career. Coming out of College at Ohio State University, Russell was touted as being the best passing point-guard since Magic Johnson. And though he would often times show flashes of brilliance, mostly with his shooting, he struggled to rack up the assists and failed to even resemble Kevin Johnson, much less Magic Johnson.

With the trade being just as much a salary dump as it was a chance to make room for Ball, the Lakers have now freed up nearly $60 Million in cap space for the chance of potentially luring two big name free-agents with such names as Paul George and LeBron James expected to hit the free-agent market in 2017-18. With lots of money to play with in the coming seasons comes plenty of intrigue. But that's not to say this season isn't worth forgetting about according to one person. Just when you hoped the annoying interviews and quotes from Lonzo's father LaVar Ball were through, out he comes with another batch freshly brewed from that relentless mouth of his. After his son was introduced by the team during a press-conference on Friday, LaVar made sure to add at least one more pressure-filled prediction on his son's shoulders by claiming, "Lonzo Ball is going to take the Lakers to the playoffs this year." While I hope he isn't wrong with that one, if Lonzo and company can deliver on LaVar's latest promise, it'll end the Lakers' four-year playoff drought, the longest in franchise history.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Durant: Goodbye OKC, Hello Golden State

The moment the buzzer sounded after the Oklahoma City Thunder failed to put the Golden State Warriors out of their misery in the Western Conference Finals, allowing the defending champs to overcome a 3-1 deficit and make it to their second consecutive Finals appearance, Kevin Durant was as good as gone. But where he would decide to take his talents was anybodies guess, with meetings scheduled with the Warriors, Spurs, Clipppers, Celtics, Heat and of course the Thunder. Sure the idea to team up in the Bay Area with Steph Curry and company was a logical one, but we didn't think it would actually happen. Whether it be financial problems or just plain old chemistry issues due to adding yet another superstar to a squad that already has three, KD to Golden State -- the team that just handed him and the Thunder franchise arguably their most crushing defeat, wins the Durant sweepstakes and hands Oklahoma City yet another punch to the gut. But hey, at least Durant was courteous enough to announce his decision on the Fourth of July, making it easier for the pyro's living in Oklahoma to burn their jersey's.

With the salary cap increasing by $24 Million this offseason, the timing was perfect for the Warriors, enabling them to acquire another superstar talent to add to their already star-studded lineup. After setting a record for the most wins in a regular season with 74, the Warriors now have a chance to be even greater than they were in 2015-16, thanks to the signing of Durant. Not to mention Oklahoma City, one of Golden State's biggest threats out west, is now hampered with the departure of their former MVP. With the signing of Durant who agreed to a 2 year, $54.3 Million deal with a player option after the first year, now come the lofty expectations of delivering a championship, something Durant has come close to, four years removed from his only NBA Finals appearance, but has yet to accomplish. Anything short of back-to-back titles for Golden State in 2015-16 was already deemed a failure considering their record-setting regular season, but the pressure to deliver a title will be even higher this coming season. After blowing a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals for the first time ever, head coach Steve Kerr knew work needed to be done and adjustments needed to be made in order to climb back to the hilltop of greatness and become champions once again. Landing Durant was their answer. 

While many criticized LeBron James in the summer of 2010 for making the unpopular decision to leave the Cavs for the sunny beaches of Miami, Durant's decision has also had its fair share of critics, but nowhere near the magnitude of LeBron's. In some ways it's worse and in others it's not quite on par on the hate-o-meter and here's why. James' decision was not only criticized because he left his home state of Ohio, but because the manner in which he made it. As if announcing in front of a live television crew that he would take his talents to South Beach didn't rub people the wrong way, his WWE-like introduction alongside best friend Dwayne Wade and All-Star teammate Chris Bosh where he told the world they would win "not five, not six, not seven..." NBA titles, sealed the deal for most people. But Durant isn't leaving the area in which he was born and raised in, nor was he brought up and brought in to be the savior out of high school like James was.

As for a few reason's it's just as bad if not worse, Kevin Durant is all Oklahoma City fans have ever known. Since being drafted in 2007 by the Thunder, known then as the Seattle SuperSonics, OKC fans have watched Durant grow and develop into one of the game's elite players right before their very eyes. He now leaves them to chase a ring, joining the enemy in the process. And unlike Cleveland's situation when LeBron left, the Thunder are the only major sports franchise in the city (hell, in the state for that matter) which is why they've been so loyal and invested in the team since relocating from Seattle. Durant's contributions inside the Oklahoma City community will never be forgotten, but I think it's safe to say he'll be showered with boo's every time he touches the ball when the Warriors pay a visit to Chesapeake Arena next season. To their credit, the Thunder franchise and their fans were a little more prepared for life after Durant than Cleveland was when LeBron left the Cavs. It wasn't for a lack of help as was the case in Cleveland, but with former Sixth Man of the Year James Harden long gone and both Durant and Serge Ibaka now out the door, the 2016-17 Oklahoma City Thunder will be an entirely different team than the one that made it's lone NBA Finals appearance in 2012 as the reigns are now handed to Russell Westbrook who's departure from the franchise may be next.

With the future of fellow superstar and teammate of Durant's for eight seasons, Russell Westbrook also uncertain, who will become a free-agent following next season, Durant wasn't exactly promised that his sidekick and partner in crime would be there after next season had he re-signed long-term with OKC. While the possibility of Durant returning to the Thunder the same way LeBron did the Cavs, could present itself say if Golden State wins a title in Durant's first year with the team, he may want to consider being a Warrior for the long haul seeing as they have the potential to be even better than the Heat were when James, Wade, Bosh and Ray Allen teamed up in Miami. With Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green all under the age of 29, younger than Wade was when Miami's super team was formed in 2010, Durant could be part of a dynasty for many seasons to come if he chooses to stay with the Warriors past this season. With an Olympic gold medal, Rookie of the Year Award, four NBA-scoring titles, seven All-Star appearances and an MVP Award to show for, the only thing missing in Durant's trophy case is an NBA title. And for the first time in his career, he'll be on a team that's the odds on favorite to win it all and add to that case heading into the season.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Walton lands Dream Job with Lakers

With a vacancy in their head coaching position, the Los Angeles Lakers have found their man. After finishing the past three regular seasons with the worst record in franchise history and diminishing win totals of 27, 21 and 19, the Lakers are ready to start off on a clean slate. And they'll be doing so under newly hired head coach Luke Walton. Name sound familiar? That's because it wasn't long ago that Walton was on the court playing for the Lakers where he spent nine years as a fan favorite. And now both Laker fans and the front-office are hoping that will continue as he returns back to the Lakers bench, only this time with a suit and tie on instead of a jersey.

Hired to become the 26th head coach in franchise history, Walton, son of NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, joins a long list of names of former Laker players who later went on to coach the team. Impressive names with the likes of George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Jerry West, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis and most recently -- Byron Scott who was relieved of his duties after just two seasons. Thus making Walton the eighth former Lakers player turned coach. However, of the seven others before him, only three of those names have finished their tenure with a winning record. And only two if you're counting a full season's worth of work. With Walton being the eighth Lakers coach to have also donned the purple and gold as a player, it's safe to say the Lakers prefer to keep it in the family by hiring one of their own. And hopefully this one works out better than the last one did.

After capturing only 38 combined wins in two seasons under Scott, the Lakers are hoping to have much more success under Walton who was twice named coach of the month this season while filling in for Steve Kerr as the intern head coach of the Golden State Warriors, whom he led to a 39-4 record, including a blazing 24-0 start. Following Kerr's return back to the Warriors bench after recovering from back surgery, the Warriors went on to assemble the greatest regular season in NBA history, finishing with an all-time best record of 73-9, narrowing the 72-10 mark previously held by the team that Kerr coincidentally played for -- the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls. Because of the accomplishment, Kerr would be named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, while many believed the award should've gone to Walton or at the very least share the award with co-Coach of the Year honors. Unfortunately for Walton, that wouldn't be the case. But at least his time in the driver seat helped skyrocket both his stock and interest in landing a head coaching job.

Two years removed from being a part-time assistant coach in the NBA's Developmental League, Walton, who becomes the youngest active head coach in the league at just 36 years of age, will now takeover the most winningest franchise in the NBA. Having grown up in Southern California and later playing for the team he lived just a stones throw away from, the hiring of Walton could be the perfect fit in L.A. Or it could be another Byron Scott-type disaster that we were more than excited for at first, and later ended up hating. At first glance, Walton doesn't seem like the type of hire you'd make when looking to help develop players which is exactly what the Lakers are in need of with their crop of young players led by Julius Randle and DeAngelo Russell. Then again, Walton could be the perfect man for the job, knocking it out of the park and proving us all wrong. The truth is, only time will tell. And whether or not the Lakers organization might not want to admit it, regardless of who it was they decided to hire, the next man for the job was going to need plenty of that to help get the Lakers back into winning form -- time. Entering year three of the Lakers current reconstruction, the front-office will have to show patience with Walton, something they showed very little of with Byron Scott calling the plays. And with Walton reportedly agreeing to a five-year deal, four of which guaranteed at an amount not yet made public, they appear to be understanding.

Smart move or not by Walton with many believing he jumped the gun and should've returned to Golden State for at least another year, he might not have had the opportunity to land his dream job again if he chose to wait it out another season. Sure leaving an organization that is currently atop the basketball world in both popularity and excitement, not to mention has the talent to become a dynasty, seems hard, but jobs like the one Walton just agreed to take don't come around too often. Though it was only a small sample size, we've seen how well Walton can coach a roster full of stars and talented players in their prime including the league's MVP, now lets see how well he can coach a bunch of youngsters still looking to make a name for themselves and whether or not he can help guide the Lakers franchise back to prominence as they look to end their dry spell of missing the playoffs for a franchise worst three consecutive seasons. And with a young team in hand already, the Lakers are expected to get even younger as they hope to strike gold in this month's NBA Draft Lottery and perhaps even in free-agency after striking out in each of the last three seasons.


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Mamba Out After Historic Final Game

With the Los Angeles Lakers in the tank machine for another season, I told myself one thing -- I wouldn't watch Laker basketball this season. But with it being Kobe Bryant's final season, the player I grew up idolizing, it's been just as hard not to watch my favorite player in his final year as it's been hard to watch them suffer another disappointing season.

With the Lakers playing terribly to the sound of their worst record in franchise history (17-65) and Kobe in his farewell tour, this season was supposed to be about the young guys -- rookie DeAngelo Russell who was selected second overall in this year's Draft and last year's first round pick Julius Randle who is basically a rookie himself, having missed all of last season with a broken leg aside from playing just 14 minutes in the season-opener. And with both players getting their much needed playing time to get their feet wet and help their development in the league, everything was going as planned. And then the news broke of Russell secretly videotaping a discussion with Laker teammate Nick Young. The conversation which touched on the subject of Young hooking up with numerous women and cheating on his fiance Iggy Azalea soon made its way onto social media. What was meant to be a joke on Young evolved into a prank gone wrong, making matters worse and adding salt to the wound that's been the Lakers' season.

So when it came time for L.A.'s final game of the season on Wednesday, Laker fans were more than relieved that the nightmare season was finally coming to an end. And then we were forced to accept that it was the ending of an era and that the career of one of basketball's all-time greats was coming to a close. The last time we would see Kobe Bean Bryant take the court in a Laker uniform. What was being referred to as "Mamba Day" began bright and early in downtown L.A. as Laker fans flocked outside of Staples Center to show their respects to "the greatest Laker in franchise history" as Magic Johnson proclaimed. With tributes being made for Kobe all season long and gifts given from opposing teams since he announced his decision to hang 'em up back in November, nothing came close to what the home team did for their beloved superstar as video messages were played on the big screen all night long. And then came the game that needed to be played. With enough celebrities in attendance for it to be an award show, the pressure on Bryant coming into the game was insurmountable. And with an 0-for-5 start from the field for Kobe, the jitters showed early on. It would soon wear off, however, as Kobe put on a show and treated us all to a spectacle in a way that only he could.

Facing the Utah Jazz who were eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the day with a victory by the Houston Rockets who claimed the eighth and final seed, Utah didn't have a whole lot to play for aside from having the chance to sweep the season series versus the Lakers for their first time ever. Utah jumped out to an early lead and maintained control of the score for nearly the entire game until the Black Mamba rose to the occasion and took over late in the fourth quarter like he's done so often in his memorable 20 year career. During a timeout discussion with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal, Shaq challenged Bryant to go out by scoring 50-points. Kobe would do him one better by scoring 60. Trailing by as many as 10 points with just over 2 minutes remaining, Kobe outscored the Jazz 23-21 in the fourth quarter including 13 unanswered while making a series of tough shots both in and outside of the three-point arch. While it was Kobe who stole the show and went on to score the most points in NBA history by a player in his final regular season game, the most important part of all for Bryant is that he did it in a winning effort as the Lakers prevailed, 101-96. As we've learned over the years, Bryant isn't one who takes losing lightly and that hasn't changed one bit over the course of his 20 year career.

Kobe shot 22 for 50 from the floor and became just the fourth player to ever attempt 50 field goals in a game. Say what you want about him taking the amount of shots he took, but understand that this one was for the fans who were forced to pay for tickets three and four times more than face value to sit in the nosebleeds if they wanted to see the iconic player in person one last time. Not to mention his teammates fed him the ball on just about every possession and encouraged him to shoot the ball. And even then, Kobe didn't disappoint, giving his supporters one last performance worth celebrating and putting an exclamation point on the storybook ending to the career of one of the game's all-time greats. A performance that had to have made the late Dr. Jerry Buss smile from the heavens above. Just to put his remarkable night into perspective, no Hall of Fame player had even scored 30-points in their final regular season game. Kobe who will undoubtedly join them and is a future Hall of Famer himself, scored twice that mark. It would be the sixth 60-point performance in his illustrious career and his first in over seven years.

With the future of the franchise unsure at this point moving forward, it's worth noting that a new era of Lakers basketball is on the horizon with Kobe out the door. With a chance to better their squad and help make the recovery from this rebuilding mode a bit easier heading into June's Draft, the Lakers will be in on just about every major free-agent on the market. But nailing the Draft is what's most important of all as Los Angeles will enter June's Draft with a top-three protected pick which will likely be used to select one of either LSU's Ben Simmons, Duke's Brandon Engram or Oklahoma's Buddy Heild. That's if they don't fall out of the top 3 spots or trade the pick. While Kobe's playing career comes to a close, his legacy will live on forever and his impact as a basketball icon and a global ambassador for the game will never fade. Bryant, a 5-time NBA Champion and former league MVP, is the Michael Jordan of his era and is the reason many players in the league today play the game of basketball. No one player made the game an international phenomenon quite like Bryant has and his name and number will be seen adorned L.A.'s Staples Center for many years to come as they sold a reported $1.2 Million worth of Kobe Bryant merchandise on Wednesday, a single-day record for any arena.


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The Price of Winning

As we learned on Friday, for some people, money isn't everything. At least not to 13-year NBA veteran David West who elected to ditch a hefty payday for a better chance at hoisting a Larry O'Brien trophy. With a $12 Million dollar player-option to re-sign with the Indiana Pacers, West instead chose to sign with the San Antonio Spurs for the veteran minimum of $1.4 Million, leaving more than $10 Million on the table to head west. West, a former AP Player of the Year while attending Xavier University and 2-time All-Star while a member of the New Orleans Hornets where he spent the first 8 years of his career before signing with Indiana in 2011, averaged 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds with the Pacers a season ago.

Facing the twilight of his career and having earned over $50 Million dollars in contracts, West can ill-afford another unsuccessful season at the age of 34 and has reached the point in his career where the cost of winning far outweighs the amount of dollar signs. Just two years removed from an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Indiana Pacers who nearly took the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat to the brink of elimination in a deciding Game 7 which Indiana went on to lose, the Pacers figured to be the next up and coming team in the east. But over the course of the next few months, the state of Indiana basketball would be altered when the team's star player Paul George suffered a freak injury in a U.S.A. Men's Basketball scrimmage which left George with a compound fracture in his right leg and the Pacers on the outside looking in on the 2014-15 playoff picture. What was once touted to be a true title contender for many years to come, was instead put on hold with George's playing career in question.

With the uncertainty regarding the future of the Pacers franchise depending on the health of its star player and a question mark hovering over whether or not the team would ever be as good as they were in 2013-14, West's decision was made a bit easier. What may come off as a head-scratcher for many, just might end up being a good decision that pays dividends given the Spurs also landed the most coveted piece in all of free-agency when 4-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge agreed to a four-year, $80 Million dollar deal with the Spurs. With San Antonio's roster aging but still very much a threat in the west prior to Aldridge's signing, the acquisition of the big man and Texas alum automatically catapults the Spurs back to the top of the Western Conference alongside the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. While money is certainly something that West left on the table, it isn't the only thing as him signing with the Spurs also means he'll have to accept a lesser role by coming off the bench and no longer starting like he's grown accustomed to throughout his NBA career. Another decision that may come off as questionable to some but could be one that benefits West and prolongs his career in the long run.

Whatever role it is that coach Greg Popovich chooses for his newest acquisition, it'll be one that best compliments his talents as West provides a much needed toughness that the Spurs have lacked.


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Tough luck Lakers lose Rookie Randle to Injury

Tuesday night marked the season-opener for the NBA as a handful of teams took the floor for the first time with one of the match-ups being the visiting Houston Rockets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. And though the Rockets would spoil the Lakers' home-opener and the return of Kobe Bryant by handing L.A. a 108-90 loss which tied for the worst loss in a season-opener since the team moved to L.A. in 1960, it was who they lost that would be of the most concern. Before the career of the Lakers' promising young star Julius Randle could even begin, the 19-year old rookie had to be carted off the court in the fourth quarter of L.A.'s season-opener at Staples Center. Randle, the seventh overall pick out of Kentucky in June's NBA Draft, suffered a broken leg while driving to the basket and buckling at the feet on an awkward shot attempt.

Randle was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery the following day to repair a fractured tibia which will most likely cost him the rest of his rookie season. Already expected to be in rebuilding mode and predicted by very few to have a shot at making the Playoffs this season, the Lakers' road just got that much harder. After an injury plagued 2013-14 season just a year ago which caused the Lakers to witness their players combine to miss a league-high 319 games, the start to this season has not been a kind one either. Nick Young who re-signed with the Lakers during the off-season, suffered a torn ligament in his thumb during training camp and is expected to be out for at least the first 4 weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the 40-year old Steve Nash has also been ruled out for the entire 2014-15 season with reoccurring back problems which will most likely end the career of the 2-time league MVP who has been a shadow of his former self since signing with the Lakers in 2012. 

For the newly hired Byron Scott who took over the head coaching reigns in late July, the transition for him will be a difficult one now that one of his standout players that the team has such high hopes for in developing will have to watch from the sidelines. Randle's teammates rallied beside him while he waited to have an air cast put on his leg and helped lift him onto the stretcher, a scene no player or fan wants to see, much less in their first career game. Randle finished the game with 2-points (1-for-3 field goals) and was the Lakers' first 1st round pick in seven years and the earliest pick since the team drafted Hall of Famer James Worthy first overall in 1982. Coincidentally, his rookie season woul also be cut short due to a broken leg.


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