Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tarik Black: "I feel like I found a home here." Said it was tough being waived by Houston, but was excited about how things worked out.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/588794683234484224">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tarik Black said Mitch Kupchak and Byron Scott told him he has a bright future, and a lot of potential to grow.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/588795042027835392">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>When talking about comparisons, Tarik Black said Lakers invoked Charles Barkley, Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace.</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/588795520912523264">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Black said he would love to play power forward in this league. Says he's undersized as far as height for C, but has tools to play 5.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/588795573005750272">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tarik Black is headed back to Kansas tomorrow. He has a course left & a thesis & he'll have his Master's in African American Studies.</p>— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) <a href="https://twitter.com/SerenaWinters/status/588795859849977856">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Hope Tarik Black sticks in the league. Already one of the best, most thoughtful interviews around.</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/588796920711241729">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Black thinks a big key to the NBA is being great at a few things that opponents can't stop. "It's not about being able to do everything."</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/588797569557344256">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tarik Black: "The thing that pushes me is I know I have the potential to do this … that's all I need."</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/588797854115737600">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Byron sticking to his guns on 3-pointers: "I still don’t necessarily think it’s going to help you win a championship."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/588808153094950912">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>More Byron Scott on 3-pointers: "You can hit threes but you got to have a post-up presence."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/588808499125035008">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Byron Scott on Lakers' lottery representative. "Maybe I'll go and take my granddaughter. That's good luck."</p>— Bill Oram (@billoram) <a href="https://twitter.com/billoram/status/588809185447452672">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mitch: "When we entertain or recruit free agents, we rarely sell the past or the legacy here."</p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/588814247544532993">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kupchak said that when recruiting free agents, LAL focus on the future, and don't rely upon the history and legacy of the franchise.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/588814402641506304">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mitch on 76ers rebuilding plan: "I still don't understand what they're doing."</p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/588815451251085312">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
We should have kept Tarik Black. Should have released Dorsey instead. Stupid Lakers would have signed him up thinking he is Dwight.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Report: Lakers Plan to Offer Jimmy Butler Max Offer Sheet <a href="http://t.co/w7YKmoytDp">http://t.co/w7YKmoytDp</a> <a href="http://t.co/RQkGYe5Rq7">pic.twitter.com/RQkGYe5Rq7</a></p>— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/597447438908190720">May 10, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After which Chicago will match Lakers have at least one more rebuilding season before they become playoff relevant Unless they max Rondo, then it'll be multiple seasons of suck
It's of the outmost importance for them to get one star or at least an up and coming near star player this offseason so they can lure someone next summer. They won't get Buttler and maybe not even Love. I think they will get Harris at 14 per or so after all their other targets have been locked up. Rondo will get at best 10 per.
Tobias Harris is a nice player but if you pay him big and expect to successfully build around him, you're in trouble.
The problem with Tobias is he is a one way player- so far. Only 22 so there's still hope and maybe the worst coach in the league had something to do with his bad defence. But : you always overpay for RFA to get them out of their teams and the most important is that this will be the market rate for new contracts this year. A 14 per will be the equivalent of a 10 per in year 2. Middleton will also get a near max, even a full max. So will Knight and Monroe. I'm not sure how much will Reggie take but I don't see him leaving Detroit. The one who will be dissapointed will be Kanter. Maybe the Lakers can get him if they offer more than 12 per and force OKC's hand.
I hope their max players in the coming years are, Kobe, Rondo and Love. That would keep them irrelevant for quite a while.
Lakers actually are in great position in their rebuild as long as they get their pick this year. Clarkson showed some real promise this year. They get back Julius Randle, plus they have a shot at another serious piece. If they ended up with Okafor, Towns or Winslow, by next year they'll start to be regarded as a good up and coming young core, with or without a major free agent addition this year. Lakers always are a destination no matter what. They just were in a financial hole with the Kobe contract. But they're not like the Knicks or Nets, Lakers could be two years away from the playoffs if some of their players pan out.
Jared Dudley Says ‘Most Guys Don’t Want to Play With Kobe “Most guys don’t want to play with Kobe. He gets in this thing where he doesn’t pass and then overpasses and then trying to get triple doubles every night, so we know you have it… “That’s why I think it will be a while for the Lakers to get good because they’ve got no stars. I would be surprised if (Kevin) Love goes there.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You gotta love the Lakers fan! You gotta understand its goin to take a very unique Star to come FA, KD and Russ. No hate just keep in it 100</p>— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaredDudley619/status/603637867718516736">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ok Kobe fans listen to the interview. I said Kobe one of the greats! I'm laughing about his shot attempts . Most people not taking less $</p>— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaredDudley619/status/603677592856764416">May 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles...ends-can-come-and-go-but-banners-hang-forever Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe says if he finishes his career without another title, it will be disappointing but it won’t be a failure. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BETAwards?src=hash">#BETAwards</a></p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614966336620523520">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hill: Worst thing you’ve ever said to a teammate? Kobe: I have made somebody cry before.</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614967829075492864">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe did say that he once told a teammate to “reconsider your life purpose.”</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614968330328391680">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe said his first date with his wife was at TGI Fridays and then they saw "Sleepy Hollow" after that.</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614968862677843968">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe is asked about not being a great friend all the time. His response: "Friends come and go but banners hang forever."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614970248568152065">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe says at the end of the upcoming season, if he feels like playing another season, he will. If not, he won’t.</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614970694569467905">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on Larry Nance tweet & talking to him about it: “There’s no need. The kid figured it out himself…He sent me a great message yesterday."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614971556754759680">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on Nance Jr. tweet: "He was really nice and apologetic about what happened.” Kobe said he told him, "It’s water under the bridge, man."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614971742520524800">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe referred to himself as the “basketball Gran Torino”: <a href="http://t.co/UhjmLyym3K">pic.twitter.com/UhjmLyym3K</a></p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614972777771192320">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sometimes I wonder how much of it is an act and how much of it is really his personality. He's a great player, but he's going to be absolutely miserable when his playing career is over. The guy only cares about playing basketball. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to play in China or something a few years after retiring. He'll miss it too much.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Report: Marc Gasol "not interested" in joining Lakers in free agency <a href="http://t.co/9E4D6OpoIm">http://t.co/9E4D6OpoIm</a> <a href="http://t.co/PkdnXytky0">pic.twitter.com/PkdnXytky0</a></p>— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNBA/status/615181418226974720">June 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
