AND ON ANOTHER NOTE.....

Do you really suppose the new comer, Roy Hibbert,

could turn out to be a match made in Basketball heaven?

He arrived in L.A. coming off a string of disappointments

with the Indiana Pacers for whom he was a 2-time All-

Star while patrolling the middle of one of the best teams

in the league until an inexplicable fall from grace resulted 

in the Pacers literally giving him away to the Lakers for a

second-round pick. As it has been written of him, one day

he was an NBA Defensive Player of the year candidate,

the next he was a 7 ft. 2" enigma whom the Pacers 

evidently could not wait to rid themselves of, happily

shipping him off to us. We seem to love a redemption

story. Does not seem to be a better opportunity or

bigger stage to offer such a down-on-his-luck star

the one the Lakers can provide Hibbert with now.

Lakers general manager, Mitch Kupchak says "If he

can do what we hope for, rebound and take up space

to protect the rim and divert guys in the paint that

beat our fellows on the perimeter, then that is what

is going to be a really good year."

Hibbert has one year remaining on his contract,

which means he and the Lakers can spend 

next season figuring out if they want to make

this a more permanent thing. It is a mutually

low risk low pressure investment that

could turn into a blockbuster before it is

all said and done.

So we have this new player to watch over and 

determine just how he will fit in with or Lakers.

BABS WELLS

SUMMER LEAGUE UPDATE

The Lakers and Robert Upshaw have envisioned a future

together through the next 2 years, but Upshaw with general

manager Mitch Kupchak, met on Thursday to discuss it.

This should hopefully clarify their partnership.  The Lakers

and Upshaw agreed to a general framework of a deal a

wk. ago but nothing has been finalized. Upshaw was projected

as a lottery pick after averaging 10.9 points, 8.2 rebounds

and 4.5 blocks in 19 games with the University of Wash.

last season.  But he went undrafted after Fresno State,

so Washington kicked him off their teams for undisclosed

violations of team rules. Through 3 summer league games 

with the Lakers, he has averaged  2.7 rebounds, & 1.3

blocks in 13.7 minutes off the bench.

The Lakers currently have 2 centers, including All-Star Roy

Hibbert and backup Robert Sacre. Tarik Black has also

played at center, but coach Byron Scott views him more

as a power forward.

Kind of fun last night viewing the game against Utah.

Saw glimpses of our former coach sitting there,

Phil Jackson. Looks good. Wonder, suppose maybe 

our Jeanie joined him? Lakers were able to hold

their own throughout most of the game, with ties

even but lost it at final shots. Saw Jordan Clarkson

playing to the hilt. The congratulatory text messages

flooded his cell phone. Among well wishers was

Clarkson's personal trainer, Drew Hanlen, who

witnessed his client working endlessly to prove

his worth in a league that initially had doubted him.

The Lakers drafted D'Angelo Russell, who will be

starting at point guard and will handle most of

the ball--handling duties. Kobe Bryant will also

return after nursing a right shoulder injury that

limited him last season to 35 games.

Mitch Kupchak said that our team really does seem

to like Clarkson as he was a mighty good player for

us this year on a very bad team.

In fact here is the run-down for Jordan Clarkson in

Summer League.

July 15: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 for 13 field goals.

July 13: 13 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 for 14 field goals

July 11: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 8 for 16 field goals

July 10 2.3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 8 for 17 field goals.

Having Jordan Clarkson on our Laker team gives us all hope.

BABS WELLS

SUMMERTIME INFO

Robert Upshaw, the Lakers rookie center by way of

Fresno State & Washington, stood between Okafor

and the hoop, as tall and as wide as one of the

gaudy casinos lining the Las Vegas Strip. So when

Okafor lunged left, Upshaw beat him to the spot. 

Frustrated, Okafor dropped his head & tried bull-

dozing a straight path to the basket. Only Upshaw

held his ground. At that moment every Lakers

fan watching at the Thomas & Mack Center (or)

watching the game on T.V. across the country, went

wild. After spending the last 2 seasons as a virtual

layup line for the opposing teams, allowing them

to win games, the Lakers now have a great big man

that realizes rim-protecting & was so very needed.

When you think about a true five man who can get

in the middle of the paint, who can block a shot &

can get out there to change the completion of the

throw, Robert Upshaw can do just that. The defensive

presence he has provided the Lakers through their

first 2 summer league games has been first-round

quality. The reality of it is, Upshaw is an un-drafted

free agent rookie carrying so much excess baggage

that NBA teams would not even invest a 2nd.round pick

in him last month. So, yes, this is most astonishing for

a 7 footer who averaged a national-best 4.5 blocked

shots last season when in Washington. He seems to 

be earning a spot in the rotation behind starting

center Roy Hibbert. Realizing he is not 100 %, he

says he is getting in shape and working hard. At

least this lad is really off to a promising start.

One fellow we need to watch is rookie D'Angelo Russell.

The long awaited return of Julius Randle makes us

realize our team does certainly now have some good

players to become better as they play more  games.

One main character with our summer league

team, is D'Angelo Russell and with the throng of reporters

watching and taking close notice of all the plays being made,

saw him dig in his feet in professional waters for the first time.

Russell's new running partner, being Jordan Clarkson, whom

we have taken notice of ourselves earlier in games, so that

to realize these rookies and players are teaming up and

manning the courts for us to see some pretty good plays

being made as time goes on , it ought to be a joy to see.

BABS WELLS

LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK

Questions abound in the backcourt, where

Russell, Randle and Clarkson must jell.

There are 5 things to watch in our Summer

League...(What to look for) 

#1: How will the Lakers' backcourt look?
#2: Can Randle stay healthy and be dominant?
#3, How will the other rookies develop?
#4, What can Black and Brown do for you?
#5, Will Robert Upshaw prove worthy of yet another chance?

The Lakers are hoping 2014 first-round selection,

Julius Randle can stay healthy and contribute

this season. Since he began recovering from

a season-ending right leg injury, the Lakers have

felt encouraged about his dieting, conditioning

and developed jumper. Coach Scott even shared

that former Lakers Metta World Peace has worked

out at the team's practice facility and observed

that Randle is "Super strong". Granted, the Lakers

have exercised caution with Randle. In fact, he will 

be missing the second night of a back-to-back game

against Philadelphia on Saturday. At first it will be

keeping him playing a limited time, but next year

we'll make sure we will be able to start venturing

out a little bit more  - Scott is telling us.

Brown wants to become a "3 and D" swing player.

Nance Jr hopes to prove his value as an energy guy.

The Lakers hope to see Black exert his defensive

hustle and rebounding with an emerging jump shot.

Also hopeful would be for Brown to sharpen up his versatility,

though he will miss at least the first 2 games because

of a small laceration on his  left eye.

It appeared that the 7-foot-2 Upshaw would become

an NBA lottery pick after setting a school record

at the University of Washington for 85 blocks.

He went undrafted amid concerns after Fresno State

and Washington dismissing him for undisclosed

violations of team rules.This then,would be a gamble.

Well, fans, we shall just have to be content to watch

the proceedings and see how it all works out.

BABS WELLS

JULY ALREADY

On Sunday, the L.A. Lakers signed free

agent, Lou Williams, a 10 year Veteran

who last played for the Toronto Raptors

to a 3 year $21 million contract...this comes 

after the Lakers traded for the Indiana

Pacers Roy Hibbert. Williams was 6th

man of the year last season after averaging

a career-high 15.5 points with the Raptors.

Williams has averaged 11.9 points and shot

34.1% from a 3-point range in his 10-year

NBA career, including stops with the Phila-

delphia 76'ers. (2005-12), Atlanta Hawks

(2012-14) and then the Raptors (2014-15).

Lakers also plan to sign, as free-agent,

forward Brandon Bass, adding to a bloated

front court that soon could dwindle to open

up cap space. Bass, a 10-year NBA veteran,

averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in

92 games with the Boston Celtics last

season. Williams' deal has no player or

team options, according to a league source

familiar with his contract. But the teams of 

Bass' deal were not immediately clear 

since the move may require the Lakers

to trade players to free up cam space. 

Candidates that include Nick Young, Ryan 

Kelly and/or Robert Sacre. Those players

are the only ones with guaranteed con-

tracts for the 2015-16 season besides

Kobe Bryant, D'Angelo Russell, Julius

Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry

Nance, Jr. All players the Lakers have no 

intentions of trading. The Lakers also have

a room exception worth $2.8 mil. The most

likeliest trade candidate appears to be

Young. He has 3 yr's. worth $16 mil.

left on his contract. The Lakers earlier had

visions of young fulfilling a role that Williams

excelled in last season. That dream un-

fortunately turned into a nightmare. Young

averaged 13.4 points on a career-low 36. %

shooting. He and Lakers Coach Byron 

Scott clashed on issues surrounding his

inconsistency, his playing time and in

his playful personality. Young also

opened and ended the 2014-15 season

with right thumb and left knee injuries

that kept him out for a combined 40 games.

Regardless of how any of this plays out,

it will not erase the sting of another top 

free-agent saying no thanks to the Lakers,

a disturbing trend for a franchise that

usually could have landed stars any

time it was asked. Sad but true so we

as fans must rally around our team 

and hope for the best.

BABS WELLS