Vlade Has A Posse
VHP is LA
August 9, 2008 at 3:06 pm · Filed under 1
In the midst of preparations for the opening games of Men’s
Basketball pool play in Beijing, Kobe is starting a new firestorm here
at home.
Kobe Bryant won’t sign a contract extension with the Los
Angeles Lakers until he has tested the global market, the U.S. Olympic
basketball star told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday.
Asked whether he plans to solicit overseas offers before signing an extension, Bryant flatly said yes.
It’s possible Bryant could leave the NBA for Europe –
perhaps in a dual role of owner and player – as early as next summer.
Bryant is signed with the Lakers through the 2010-11 season, but can
opt out after next season. [Yahoo! Sports]
I could express my opinion on this for pages, but I’ll keep it at this:
Why does Kobe feel the need to talk about this right now? After all
of the emphasis he’s put on the importance of winning an Olympic gold,
he’s spouting off about a controversial move that won’t even happen for
another year. It just doesn’t seem right.
I respect both Kobe’s status as one of the best players in the
world, and anyone’s quest for riches, but give me a break. Why now?
[Complete Post at LA Hoops Blog]
2 Comments
August 8, 2008 at 9:03 pm · Filed under 1
Just two days before the US is set to take on China in men’s basketball pool play at the Olympics, the Lakers have announced the acquisition of point guard, Sun Yue–China’s
premiere play making presence. Yue, drafted by the Lakers 40th overall
in 2007 has been highly touted as the “Magic Johnson of the far east,”
because of his 6-9, 205lb. frame coupled with his excellent
ball-handling and passing abilities.
The Lakers are set to make the deal official in the next few days.
“Hopefully, it will get done soon” said Lakers’ spokesman John Black,
yesterday.
This is a big pick-up for the Lakers. The word was that Mitch wasn’t
going to pull the trigger on Yue until next year, however, doubt on
Jordan Farmar’s progression is rumored to have been the kicker on the
move.
Despite the historical uncertainty on foreign players, the tape doesn’t lie on Sun Yue.
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 25, 2008 at 8:02 pm · Filed under 1
After the threat of being the next NBA casualty to Europe, Sasha Vujacic and the Lakers have agreed to a deal.
After
some tense negotiations, the Lakers and restricted free agent guard
Sasha Vujacic agreed to a deal Friday afternoon, Lakers General Manager
Mitch Kupchak confirmed.
The deal, according to sources close to the player, is for $15 million over three years.
The 6-foot-7 guard is scheduled to earn $5 million per season. [Press Enterprise]
The deal is a step up from the $12mil/three-year that the Lakers
offered him yesterday. So there it is. The Sasha sweeps is over. Sasha
got paid, Mitch got his guy, and everyone is happy.
Well, most everyone. Sasha’s $5mil/year deal makes him monetarily
more valuable than both Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum in their current
contracts. This may bring up some questions as far as the financial
situation that the Lakers are in. Despite the letting go of Ronny
Turiaf, the Lakers are under pressure to extend Andrew Bynums contract
for BIG money by the start of the season.
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 24, 2008 at 9:09 pm · Filed under 1
There’s a possibility that Sasha Vujacic might end up in Europe come next season. Hat tip to The Lakers Nation.
First Atlanta’s Josh Childress headed overseas, signing a
lucrative deal from a Greek club. Now Houston’s Carl Landry is
entertaining offers from across the Atlantic.
Lakers’ Sasha Vujacic also has been contacted by several
European clubs, according to a Slovenian newspaper. (Probably a good
move for him considering no NBA clubs have expressed interest in
signing the restricted free agent).
Kobe Bryant said he wouldn’t be surprised if Vujacic takes
the money and runs to Europe (if the rumors are true) considering the
Lakers aren’t offering him more than a qualifying one-year deal worth
$2.6 million.
“It depends on how much money they’re throwing at him,”
Bryant said. “You got rules (NBA’s salary cap), so you’re playing with
an uneven playing field. So if they want to throw a boatload of money
at him.” [OC Register Lakers Blog]
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 23, 2008 at 7:57 pm · Filed under 1
Hoopsworld
is reporting that the Lakers are among a few teams working for a
potential sing-and-trade involving
Bulls’ small forward, Luol Deng.
Reports yesterday suggested that Chicago Bulls’ forward Luol
Deng and his agent were ready to issue an “ultimatum” to the Bulls,
basically saying if Luol did not have a deal done by September 1st,
that he would back away from negotiations and not negotiate again with
the Bulls. The reports suggested if Luol did not get a deal he’s
comfortable with, he’d sign the Bulls’ $4.4 million qualifying offer
sheet and become an unrestricted free agent next year and walk.
League sources suggested that the Lakers, Pistons, Heat and Jazz have all had discussions with Luol Deng’s camp about the framework of a sign-and-trade. [Hoopsworld]
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 23, 2008 at 5:47 pm · Filed under 1
November 19th, 2004 was the last time the Palace hosted a bout of
this magnitude. Some of the biggest names in the NBA battled it out on
the court, in the stands, and in the hallways. This time, though it
didn’t leave the hardwood, it was some of the biggest names in women’s basketball.
The game turned ugly in the final seconds as a collision
between Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson turned into a shoving
match that saw players and coaches from both teams leave the bench.
Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, who was involved in the
Pistons-Pacers brawl on Nov. 19, 2004, as a Detroit broadcaster trying
to break up the fight, appeared to shove Lisa Leslie to the floor at
one point.
Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson and Mahorn were all ejected,
while Detroit’s Cheryl Ford left the floor on a wheelchair after
getting injured while trying to restrain Pierson. [AP via Yahoo! Sports]
[Full Story and Video at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 21, 2008 at 7:20 pm · Filed under 1
The Lakers closed out SPL play with a couple of big losses, Friday and Saturday, cementing a 2-4 overall record.
The Lakers, with the deepest (in terms of number of players) rosters
in the SPL, were anchored by the one and only Coby Karl, who led the
team with 13.8 PPG. Rookie, Joe Crawford came in a close second,
posting 11.3 PPG.
On the boards, the hyphen crew held it down. UCLA alum, Lorenzo
Mata-Real pulled down 6.8 RPG, and Terp turned Euro guy, Nik
Caner-Medley averaged 5.0 RPG in addition to his 8.8 PPG. I’ve seen a
few rumors of Caner-Medley preseason roster talk, but none have been
confirmed.
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
1 Comment
July 19, 2008 at 3:52 pm · Filed under 1
Just as we were crossing into the realm of what could be
considered ‘drama,’ by some accounts, some fairly enlightening news has
come out of the Lakers’ camp in regards to Andrew Bynum’s recovery.
But first, here’s a quick timetable of what’s gone down as of late:
July 3rd: Andrew Bynum did indeed receive medical clearance
from doctors Thursday and will begin training in earnest by mid-July.
His agent, David Lee, said the Lakers center did not have any pain or
swelling in his surgically repaired left knee and will be ready to go
by training camp in October. [O.C. Register]
July 9th: Kupchak also questioned whether
center Andrew Bynum has been cleared by his doctor to begin training.
Last week, Bynum’s agent, David Lee, said his client had been given
medical clearance by Dr. David Altchek and would start training in two
weeks. “I’m not saying what he (Lee) said isn’t true,” Kupchak said,
“I’m saying he has not been cleared.” [OC Register]
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 19, 2008 at 3:52 pm · Filed under 1
Just as we were crossing into the realm of what could be
considered ‘drama,’ by some accounts, some fairly enlightening news has
come out of the Lakers’ camp in regards to Andrew Bynum’s recovery.
But first, here’s a quick timetable of what’s gone down as of late:
July 3rd: Andrew Bynum did indeed receive medical clearance
from doctors Thursday and will begin training in earnest by mid-July.
His agent, David Lee, said the Lakers center did not have any pain or
swelling in his surgically repaired left knee and will be ready to go
by training camp in October. [O.C. Register]
July 9th: Kupchak also questioned whether
center Andrew Bynum has been cleared by his doctor to begin training.
Last week, Bynum’s agent, David Lee, said his client had been given
medical clearance by Dr. David Altchek and would start training in two
weeks. “I’m not saying what he (Lee) said isn’t true,” Kupchak said,
“I’m saying he has not been cleared.” [OC Register]
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
July 19, 2008 at 3:52 pm · Filed under 1
Just as we were crossing into the realm of what could be
considered ‘drama,’ by some accounts, some fairly enlightening news has
come out of the Lakers’ camp in regards to Andrew Bynum’s recovery.
But first, here’s a quick timetable of what’s gone down as of late:
July 3rd: Andrew Bynum did indeed receive medical clearance
from doctors Thursday and will begin training in earnest by mid-July.
His agent, David Lee, said the Lakers center did not have any pain or
swelling in his surgically repaired left knee and will be ready to go
by training camp in October. [O.C. Register]
July 9th: Kupchak also questioned whether
center Andrew Bynum has been cleared by his doctor to begin training.
Last week, Bynum’s agent, David Lee, said his client had been given
medical clearance by Dr. David Altchek and would start training in two
weeks. “I’m not saying what he (Lee) said isn’t true,” Kupchak said,
“I’m saying he has not been cleared.” [OC Register]
[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]
No Comments
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