Updated: July 30, 2007, 8:21 PM ET

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Coby Karl, son of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl.

A 6-foot-5 guard, Coby Karl averaged 12.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in five games for the Lakers 2007 Summer-Pro League team.

He averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior at Boise State last season and was named first team All-WAC.

Not selected in this year's NBA draft, he returned to the court last month, just 2½ months after having cancerous lymph nodes removed. It was his second bout with cancer in a little more than a year. He had his thyroid removed in 2006 and chemotherapy after his junior season at Boise State.

Karl recently said he believed the cancer was behind him.

He is Boise State's all-time leader in games played (127) and 3-pointers made (266) and ranks third on the list with 1,698 points.

Lakers Sign Coby Karl

Is it a guaranteed contract or did they use the rest of the MLE leftover from signing Derek Fisher (Welcome Back Fish)?

Let's hope some more improvements are coming, I think its good we are adding another shooter but let's get some defense, I think we have some assets that we really need to get rid of and could come up with a good player or two

Mitch has got to go! This was the deal of the decade and he blew it. Who would you not have traded, besides Kobe, for KG? Mitch couldn't trade a pony for a piece of candy with a little girl. Pathetic. Lakers are crap for years to come.

It just seems that Bynum, Odom, Brown and Crittenton is a lot more than what the T-Wolves got from the Celtics. This trade seems dirty. The NBA should investigate it.

This blog is blocking comments from some bloggers like me.

This is a shame.

This is disgusting...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070730

Just so you guys who blame Mitch for not getting Garnett, I hope you read that and understand what Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale were thinking about when working out the Garnett trade. They will have cemented their Boston folklore. This isnt a basketball decision by any means. This is McHale helping out his buddy Danny Ainge and also by getting into the Larry Bird level of Boston celebrity..

BTW any reason why Bill Simmons can just write about the Celtics all the time. Is this just another part of ESPN and sports in general with the East Coast Bias thing???

--------

So with this being said...can Magic or Kareem get into the FO and show the Celtics how they owned them in the 80s??? Jerry West, where are you????

The sad thing, is that Kobe probably knows nothing of this, and rather than wanting to stay with the Lakers and be the anti-Celtics..hes just going to rant and ask to play for some one else....

By the way, the Celts arent a shoe in at all. Garnett has been Tracy McGrady minus one good year (but also bad competition) his whole career. Ray Allen is on the downside..and Paul Pierce has shown durability issues...Plus has nobody noticed that that team has NO BENCH. If they trade all those young guys from their bench, they got Scalabrine backing them up??? The C's become a slower older version of the Suns, with no sidekicks.

Personally I believe that the Bulls are better and the Pistons are their equals if motiviated.

Hey guys, about the Coby Karl signing, while he's not KG, I think is a clear sign that Sasha is on his way out.

Kupchek says "We believe he can fit into the system. But he will need to beat someone out for his spot"

So clearly if karl makes the team, someone is getting axed. That guy has to be Sasha in a buyout. I dont think the Lakers would be fooling around with Karl if they didnt think he'd be making the team. They didnt even say anything about D-league. This is make or break, so essentially keeping Karl motivated like he was during the summer league. Karl also has to think he'll make the squad since he turned down a lucrative offer to play in Europe.

On a side note, I have personally seen Coby Karl play for Boise St, and the dude is actually pretty good. Good body control and hes a tough guy. he has a bit of Ronny's toughness in him.

If Sasha is indeed on his way out, then I have to believe that they are clearing roster space for a trade, and another free agent. Perhaps they are bringing in Navarro or C-Webb??

I would think that PJ brown might be heading to Boston to fill that Center position alongside KG.

KG's next move, he will sell his house in Malibu. He will buy Boston Common and the Quincy Market.

Just like any Californian, they are cashing on their biggest asset and moving to other states with cheaper homes and larger properties thereby pocketing their profits.

Who is the coach of the Celtics? Doc Rivers, once a dirty player who knows all bags of tricks, now a coach of KG, Pierce and Allen, watch out one thing you also need in a Championship team is chemistry and a good coach. I don't think Rivers is a good coach. It may be three more years before the Celtics gets into contention. The lakers took five years and the implementing of PJ's discipline before they finally got it.

Most of the bloggers here want the head of Mitch. Well, there is such thing as "command responsibility". If Mitch has "delicadeza" (sense of pride) he could interpret the mood of the fan base, it just proper to turn his resignation before the start of the season. He has been in the F/O for so long, it's time to move on and have a new leader with a different vision. We tried his guts, his choices, his mixture, it didn't work, the team should not be managed by sheer luck, managed by bloggers on the daily posts, managed by following a cheapskates strategy on signing Smush at 800K, Sasha 900K, Shammond 1.75M, his talent search leaves a lot to be desired. On the other hand, he wasted several cap space when he divided the 28M contract into three players, only LO is remaining right now. That's the yardstick to gauge the effectiveness of Kupchak on how he spent the yearly 28 M in the last three seasons.

Everyone want's to bag on Andrew Bynum because he hasn't brought home a trophy before his 19th birthday ????? IF HE'S SO BAD WHY HAS EVERY GM DEMANDED THAT HE BE PUT IN EVERY TRADE DISCUSSED, HUH, EVERY TRADE INVOLVES ANDREW BYNUM, ISN'T THAT STRANGE.
I say keep him till he's 21 at least, then you will KNOW if he's going to be something or not. Meanwhile trade Kwame (which you KNOW isn't great) and Farmar and Cook or Vlad if needed for a good defensive minded SF. (say Ron Artest) then offer Webber the Vet's exception.

The team last year was not that bad, it was the injuries that were bad, improving the SF position and the addition of Fisher and Javaris will make a 50 win team.

TK

KL: I am a Laker fan who doesn't 100% appreciate Kobe (hate is too harsh and I do appreciate Kobe's pure talent) because the my definition of being a Lakers is "great players who are able to work together for the common goal (championships)" which Kobe has exhibited behavior contrary to those principles after the 2002 run. Fair enough?

Gunner: I'm an old school baller who remember when the Lakers use to win with 4-5 players in double figures. When there was different high scorer everynight and when Magic showed everyone how you can be a champion by getting everyone on the team involved. I think everything Kobe has done for the past 3 years and this summer is a slap in the face to the Mikahs, Jabbars, Johnsons, Worthys, Chamberlains, and others.

The sad part about what y'all said is that it'll fall on deaf ears and blind eyes. Please understand something: 1/2 of these so called Laker Fans on this blog probably became that way BECAUSE OF the summer of 1996. They know nothing about the stuff you gents speak of. TEAM basketball. These babies only follow the bouncing superstar.

What the FO REALLY should do: Let Kobe biichnmoan and let him opt out and then start from scratch in 09. It's the only way the Lakers will ever be a TEAM again. I'd rather see a TEAM get to the Finals than see a superstar putting up 50 points in 7 straight games...FOR NOTHING!

well maybe George Karl will tank the games the Nuggets play against the Lakers, allow his son to score thirty points, could be 4 extra wins......

Breaking:

From Hoopsworld a few minutes ago:

".........According to a source who has spoken to Newsday's Ken Berger, Kobe Bryant will now push harder for a trade because yet another superstar player has been traded to a team other than the Lakers. The source told Berger that "the Laker situation is only going to get worse."................"

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22913.shtml

Move over Toyota, the Lakers have a new sponser: Prozac!!!

Laker fans feeling a little blue after watching another free agent sign elsewhere then we have the pill for you! The front office got you down? Just take a couple more. Thinking about Luke trying to guard his man? Worried about Fish watching Nash and Parker fly right by him? Discouraged by watching Kwame fumble another sure bucket away? Never fear, Prozac is here! Personally endorsed by Mitch Kupchek.

Remember like Mitch says 'happy days are here again'

Michael H- what could poosibly "go down" that would have any substantial meaning----other than maybe overpaying for Jermaine O'Neal, which would be a big mistake. What major stars are on the block? Could they revisit a J-Kidd thing, highly doubtful, Jersey just paid all that money to resign Vince Carter, they wouldn't have done that if they would still trade Kidd....I mean, this is the basic final Lakers team- frankly, some of the lower tier western teams have gotten a little worse, so maybe that's a couple more victories- I don't know- this team is at best a 48 win squad....tough times, and Kobe is gonna be angered...geez, maybe they shoud trade him, I mean really, enough with Kobe, he'll be unbearable to deal with for the Lakers - he'll be moaning and groaning- trade him, build a new squad Mitch, it's all you can do----

Why are so many people on this blog crying over spilt milk? KG thinks he'll have a chance to get to the finals with the Celtics. Neither Ainge or any of the other Celtics legacy GMs sees any value in all the players on the Lakers roster we want to throw overboard. No matter how good a deal we think Odom + Bynum + Farmar + Vlad + Cook + Sasha would be for a KG or JO, no one wants these guys.

The Lakers have spent years stocking the roster with questionable talent and even more questionable contracts. So why are we surprised that a fire sale gets no customers?

Only Mitch Kupchak would sign another guard (Kobe Karl) when we really need help at forward. Maybe the Lake Show has the right idea when he posts, "If Sasha is indeed on his way out, then I have to believe that they are clearing roster space for a trade, and another free agent. Perhaps they are bringing in Navarro or C-Webb??" We'll see. Even if it happens, that's not a blockbuster move.

TomK,
You write about Bynum, "IF HE'S SO BAD WHY HAS EVERY GM DEMANDED THAT HE BE PUT IN EVERY TRADE DISCUSSED, HUH, EVERY TRADE INVOLVES ANDREW BYNUM, ISN'T THAT STRANGE."

The key word is DISCUSSED. None of these deals have been consummated.

I've been arguing here for days that we need to find strength in stability. I still believe that. I still believe that it is possible to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Does this mean we could have a team that's a lock to go to the Finals? Of course not. But reality is reality and it looks like there will be no blockbuster deals this summer involving the Lakers. I'm not gonna cry about it.

Let's move past KG. That train has left the station. I'm out of cliches and I'm out of patience. I'm just as cranky as most everyone else on this blog. We've just got to find a way to move past the disappointment and find a way to build a team with what we have.

Boston Celtics trade for KG.

Los Angeles Lakers sign Coby Karl.

"We will not trade 'Kobe'" Which one?

Mickey,

Thanks for your reply. I also feel because J-Crit has ran the triangle in highschool, he may actually pass up Jordan. My cousin made it to the SPL in vegas and he mentioned that the coaching staff kept giving JC his props. I saw Farmar last year in the SPL and he kept getting beat of the dribble.

But if this team can stay healthy, I feel we can make it to the 2nd round. No deeper in the playoff's than that.

Peace and Blessings RG and Mickey

Time for a reality check. The move to the Celtics will be good for Garnett financially but I doubt he will ever get a ring. He is going to sell alot of green jerseys thats for sure. Boston might even get on national television again.

The problem is the other two 'stars'. Both Pierce and Allen were overrated when they were at the top of their games. Neither is now. Neither plays much defense. Who is going to play center? They traded the ENTIRE bench. Is KG going to play 48 every night?

Bottom line, in the East a playoff team, but not a conference finals team.

On a different note, why can't we work out something with Utah for AK47. He would certainly improve our defense at the 3 spot. Utah would like to move him. He would probably do well in the triangle. WHAT SAY YOU?

KL:

"Looks like old-kobe ain't getting what he wants
*No Jerry West
*No trade to Chigago, Pheonix or Dallas
*No KG
*No "shipping out" Bynum
*No JO
*No firing Mitch"

Gunner and KL,

It's really sad that you guys just don't get it. With Mitch and the Busses at the helm, the Lakers are finished. You cheer the fact that Jerry West didn't come back. You cheer the fact the the Lakers didn't get KG. But you forget that all the Lakers championships have been won because the FO had the balls to go out there and bring a big name player to the Lakers, and now that West is gone, so are those balls.

Wilt, Kareem, and Shaq -- all three of those guys became Lakers because the FO decided to take risks and bank on a big superstar. Now, if things go as planned, the polar opposite is going to continue to happen:

-Acquiring Wilt: 4 Finals appearances, Lakers' first championship, best season in NBA history
-Acquiring Kareem: 5 Titles in the 80's
-Acquiring Shaq: Three-peat

However, the result since West left is:

-Trading Shaq: Missed playoffs, two first round exits
-Trading Kobe: ?

It's pretty easy to see where this is going. The team who gives up a superstar for a bunch of "good" players always gets the short end of the deal, and if Kobe is traded, it will be no exception. Before West left, every Hall-of-Famer retired as a Laker. Now, they're headed for the exits. Whether Kobe hastened Shaq's departure doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is how the Lakers get better as a team NOW.

I know that, in your heart of hearts, you would be ecstatic if Mitch stepped down and Jerry West came back as GM. But instead you rejoice because "Kobe didn't get what he wanted."

If you really were Laker fans, you would put your desire to have the great one back (West) and your desire to get some true talent (KG) ahead of your hatred for Kobe.

10milliomdollorzen

I agree we shouldnt over pay for JO but those talks dissapeared after the KG talks started. The Pacers havent
exactly dazzled JO with their own upgrades. Perhaps now we reopen those talks. Of course if Bird still insists on robbery, then we
walk away. Another possibility is Artest. Can Bibby and Artest co-exist? It doesnt look like Biby is going anywhere, so what
will Sac town do now? It might be a smaller deal, who knows? But I seriously doubt we will keep 8 guards so somethings up.
as far as your prediction of 48 games, I think this club can do a little better then that if healthy. as far as Kobe, He will have to expand his list
of teams he will play with or nothings going to happen there either.

MH

This Coby thing just tickles me. How are they going to distinguish between Coby and Kobe? Are they just gonna call him "Karl"?

Having so many guards is definitely ... weird. Time to once again trust that Mitch is doing the right thing.

E

i hope you guys arent expecting kupshizzle to pull off another move? this guy is the love child of bill stoneman and paul depodesta. theyre probably stockpiling guards to see who pans out. are you guys so blind to see that nothing will be done? excuses is the soup de jour for the team now. lets face it guys, we are in the laker dark ages.

also, keep in mind that LO was the guy who led the heat in 04. he is a good player! he belong at the three, but what does it matter, the team will be in separte factions anyway. after kobegate, why would the other guys respect him?

Ok KG is off the boards and its time to focus on JO. We NEED a second All-Star.

Get them to take LO and Kwame, or in the alternative Kwame, Bynum and Vlad. Both are good deals for them, especially with Kwame's contract coming off the books next year.

I actually like the first trade better. We get to keep Bynum, who has a fine chance to realize his potential with Mihm backing him up, Kobe leading the team, Fish at the point, and JO at the 4. Turiaf and Vlad are solid back-ups behind JO as well.

But I honestly don't think Kupcake has the muscle to pull the trade off. Bird had no respect for him on the court so why would that change off the court? WE have Magic in our extended family who Bird considers a peer as well as a close friend.. Why not let him handle the negotiaions - we can still call Mitch the "official" GM, but we need someone Bird respects to bring him around.

gdchild

“Look what GMs of other teams are doing to improve their rosters, while Mitch does nothing. Don't tell me re-signing Luke, Mihm, and Fisher makes difference. We're about the same, mediocre team, especially when other Western Conference teams improve quite a bit. As Kobe ranted, Mitch and the Laker FO are all talks, no actions. They put a lousy roster here and, along with some fans, expect Phil and Kobe to fix it into a contending team?”

Hey Child, do you mind taking your head out of kobe’s a$$ for a minute to consider that kobe has a bad reputation and Mitch can offer KG $25M a year and KG would still rather play on a team without a selfish kobe bryant?

Let’s not forget kobe put himself above winning by holding management’s nuts in 2004 to rid of shaq as a condition of signing his FA deal. Kobe’s got nobody to blame but himself.

Kobe=Britney Spears of the NBA

p ang,

"And why would I bother rationalizing anything to an irrational man like you?"

Didn't anybody ever teach you never to answer a question with another question? BTW, how is kobe plus PJ minus shaq a "proven winner". Please tell me you can do better than calling me irrational? please, i'm begging.

please enlighten me on what exactly kobe and PJ has won over the last 2 years? scoring titles? i'll condede. playoff series? Championship? Getting solid FA to join LA?

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