LOSSES ARE SO HARD TO TAKE

And in today's paper, maybe Pau Gasol.
Seems it is not a for a sure thing but quite "iffy"
that we just may lose our Pau. Would so hate to
see this happening but cannot blame him or his
brother Marc if choices are given for them to play
their game of Basketball elsewhere.
I cannot help but wonder to tell the truth, about
some of the decisions Kupchak keeps making.
I know I am not in the know so I always have to
give him the benefit of the doubt, but all too
often it seems a bit odd when players are used
as commodities instead of people the way we as
fans see them. Anyway, I am ever so pleased to
see that our former Lakers Player Derek Fisher
is going off to N.Y. and will be coaching. Plus he 
will be right there with former Lakers coach, Phil
Jackson. These two men stand tall in my eyes.
And speaking of Pau once again, are you aware of
the impact he has made here in LA? His presence
here goes way beyond on-court ball playing.  He
has visited patients at the Childrens' Hospital
at least 4 times a year, viewing spinal surgery
patients and donated more than $250,000 as well
as installed a fellowship that helps the hospital
train doctors from his native Spain.Through
"MysafeLA", Gasol has spoken to various elementary
schools in the L.A. Unified School District and he has
helped the L.A. Fire Department record videos in both
English and Spanish about fire safety.
He and his brother created a foundation
last year that initially entailed visiting the Boys
and Girls Club in downtown L.A., encouraging
exercise along with a healthy diet to make the
attempt to reduce obesity. Now, we ask, what will
happen to these projects if Gasol does leave
The Lakers? Hopefully he will continue his bent
on helping with them no matter what. No, we 
are not thrilled over such a prospect however.
There now seems to be some hint over the
possibility of obtaining LeBron James from the
Miami Heat to come and join our Lakers team.
He and our Kobe Bryant were teammates in the
2012 Olympics. Bryant's two-year $48.5 million 
contract enables the Lakers to only sign one
max-level player instead of two. It stands to reason
that no matter what does take place, any other 
designated top player would very likely have to 
consider taking a pay-cut to join the Lakers. 
Robert Sacre will be continuing on with our team. 
And it would seem that a sort of foundation has 
come into focus with the pick of Julius Randle. 
He has some foot issues so that is a consideration 
surely, but for right now, it is not one that the Lakers 
are all that concerned with. Randle is a forward
from Kentucky and was available as the 7th pick 
of the 2014 NBA draft.
Wondering what the future holds for us all now?
BABS WELLS

THIS AND THAT

While Steve Nash tells us that he is on

the road to recovery for his back issues,

he was on a conference call regarding

his seventh annual "Steve Nash Foundation

Showdown". This took place today in N.Y.

at the Sara D. Roosevelt Park. There were

a handful of NBA players featuring Dirk

Nowitzki, Dallas forward, and Cleveland

guard Kyrie Irving. Also competing was

Giuseppe Rossi, soccer player.

The event was free to the public but

any donations packages will fund agencies

centered on childhood education and

those that work with child abuse.

The donation packages priced at $250,

gave fans on-field access to interact with

players plus watch the game. They received

T-shirts and an invitation to watch the U.S.-

Germany World Cup game on Thursday 

at an unspecified N.Y. City based restaurant

where Nash will be in attendance. Nash was born

in South Africa but spent most of his childhood

in Canada.

The clock will soon be ticking and the Lakers

will have to figure out quickly the best way

to use their seventh over-all draft pick.

Would they take a risk and select Kansas

center, Joel Embild? Would they choose

Kentucky's forward Julius Randle? What 

about Arizona's Aaron Gordon or Indiana's

Noah Vonleb? It deems a necessity to

bolster both their defense and paint

presence. The draft choices for NBA

is Thursday They have already mapped

out such variables but the more

difficult question is how much impact

can a seventh overall draft selection

actually make on their team?

With every joke and laugh, Nick Young's

positive energy oozed through the phone

recently being he calls himself "Swaggy P"

and has just come off a vacation in Cabo San

Lucas, Mexico.

He has entertained Lakers fans with his 

infectious personality and is planning on

another trip. This one to London where

he is insisting he is modeling in a fashion

show! Yes, he does consider  on playing

in L.A.  but could opt out of his $12 mil. 

before the June 25 deadline. That would

allow him to become an unrestricted

free agent July 1st. and possibly have

leverage for a larger deal with the Lakers.

Not only does he have a joyful attitude,

it would seem he also is good  with his

business needs. We shall wait and see. 

Babs Wells

GUESS IT NOW IS OFFICIAL

Our dear friend that has recently played

for NBA in OKC turns 40 on his nextBirthday.

This would be Derek Fisher, former Laker

and point guard that has so many facets

to his person. Our former coach Phil Jackson,

has now become NYC Knicks President.

So the Lakers legacy continues but without

these two great men. We wish them both 

nothing but the very best. Standing in front

of the Knicks logo, these 2 stood for an

interview but not in L.A. any longer.

A partnership that will become its' own

legend. Such a straight arrow and a

person of interest with his trustworthiness,

Fisher will at times use Phil's triangle play

but not always, according to him.

Fisher won three straight titles from

2000-2002 on our Laker team

and helped win again in 2009-2010

and he was the president of the

Players Association during the 2011

lockout. And so, like Jason Kidd in

Brooklyn, Fish is prepared to make

the leap right off from the court and

over to the bench without any coaching

experience on any level. At 6' 1" he stands 

tall all the same. "We know that we can 

establish, without a doubt, a good 

organization worthy of winning games 

and that is our whole aim" Derek told reporters. 

Jackson told Derek that he would always be 

available to help if and when it deems necessary.

And so, for around $25 million over a 5-year

time frame and loving basketball as Fish does, 

will spur the players on easily along with his

expertise in "coaching". (In the locker room

as he has always done) He speaks his

mind and acts accordingly just as a leader

ought to do. We wish him well and will

be looking forward to N.Y. games ahead

of us with Derek Fisher now as coach.

Best of all that is good for the NBA

for both Phil Jackson and now Derek Fisher too.

BABS WELLS

STILL WEIGHING OPTIONS

Derek Fisher (Former Laker)

now playing with OKC has stated

he just might be interested in

becoming coach of the Lakers,

Either that or even possibly make 

a decision to go possibly with Phil

Jackson in N.Y.At age 40, his 

days of actual playing time have 

already become somewhat limited.

Lakers general manager, Mitch

Kupchak also had an informal

phone visit with former Denver Nuggets

coach George Karl, according to a

league source familiar with the

situation. Although they are leaning

toward hiring a coach with experience,

they still remain open-minded and plan

to interview more candidates before

finalizing their search. Actually the

Lakers may have to move more

quickly on Fisher since Jackson has

publicly touted him as a candidate.

When Oklahoma State sophomore

guard Marcus Stuart met with NBA

pre-draft teams 2 weeks ago in

Chicago, our Lakers were a team

being considered. June 26 is the

NBA draft date and Smart worked

out with the Lakers this week but

will also be show-casing himself

to the Orlando Magic and the

Boston Celtics so nothing so

far is complete but we shall see.

BABS WELLS