What you'd expect from PJ - Disappointment in the way the season ended with a sense of accomplishment over how far they came. Those of you looking for any contrition over the work he did in the Finals will be disappointed. There's the desire to learn from mistakes, but not to overreact to them, or try to apply this season's lessons to next season's team when the personnel and how they're arranged might change. There's talk of how to integrate Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, the difficulty they'll have returning to the Finals in a tough Western Conference, and the challenges of entering next season as a favorite.  Of roster issues (like Sasha Vujacic), of Kobe now vs. Kobe a year ago, and the Olympics.  And so on and so forth. 

BK

Click below for the video.

Dude's just a rock.  As always, he's able to deliver a great perspective on the season, where they were a year ago, where they are now, and where they're going.  "It is exciting to think about what we can accomplish going forward, but the emotions are mixed in regards to this season. We grew a lot and accomplished a lot, but that gap is still there between [us] and being the best. I'm sure that's where most of us will spend the summer, trying to figure out how individually we can better ourselves so that collectively we can close that gap and get to the top."

Pretty much sums things up. 

Interesting stuff as well (thanks to a solid AK Q) on his perspective on the year -- returning to the team he started with, the situation into which he arrived, his daughter's illness, and what turned into a very unexpected year. 

BK

Click below for the video.

Many of you were waiting to hear what LO had to say at his exit interview today, and while there were no real surprises, it's fair to say the mood was a little somber. Not only because he's still pretty down about the Finals -- at times, Odom was barely audible when speaking about his disappointment -- but also because, as it has been basically every year since he arrived in L.A., Odom's future in purple and gold is in doubt. Nobody quite knows what will happen. Will he be traded?  Will he be a small forward?  Could he play some guard? 

What is very clear is Odom's hope to stay in L.A., as he repeated what he has said numerous times before -- "This is where I want to end my career.  As a Laker." 

He also talks about his health, conditioning his body to protect those areas of his body that hurt more than others, how he reacts to the expectations of others, and his choice of local baseball squad. 

BK

Click below for the video.

Gasol spoke at length with the media, covering everything from his upcoming Olympic experience to the range of adjustments he had to make coming to a winning franchise. Fair to say, the culture in L.A. is different from the one he left in Memphis. He's excited about the prospect of playing in the same frontcourt as Andrew Bynum and believes the team is certainly moving in the right direction, despite how things ended. (They did make the Finals, after all, so it's hard to argue.) It's interesting, too, to hear Gasol talk about the charge that he and his teammates were soft. To reach the Finals, winning the top spot in the Western Conference and beating the Nuggets, Jazz, and Spurs, the latter two being very physical, tough teams, makes that impossible, he said. Had they been truly soft, there's no way the Lakers would have made it as far as they did.

All that and more, in four parts, below.

BK

It's always interesting to talk to Vladdy.  Here, he talks about his relationship with Phil Jackson, how he -- meaning Radmanovic -- was pleased to bounce back from last year's debacle of a season and redeem himself (at least to some degree) in the eyes of management and fans, disappointment in losing to Boston, and how he believes the team can bounce back next season.

BK

Click below for the video.

JF actually met with the media before, rather than after, his interview, so there's obviously nothing in there about what management told him about his season or this summer. Still, in one of the shorter interviews, Farmar talks about how the team needs to improve its defense, what he learned this season, how he felt about his second season in the NBA, his first receiving significant minutes.

BK

Click below for the video.

No question that the contract situation for Sasha is one of the larger issues this summer for the Lakers.  Vujacic makes it clear he'd like to stay in L.A. all things being equal, but as we all know, in sports- especially on the business side -- all things aren't. So no surprise to hear some contract talk in his exit interview. In other news,

• Like the other guys, Sasha talks about his disappointment with the way the Finals ended.
• Talks about how happy he was to have reached a point in his career where he was given consistent minutes and was able to make positive contributions throughout the season,
• How he's excited to get back into the gym to keep filling out his game.
• His desire to improve as a ballhandler, and the progress he made in that area (Ed. Note... he still has some work to do.)
  
• The origins of "The Machine."  Once and for all, lest there be any confusion, it's Joel Meyers.

BK

Click below for the video.

Like Chris Mihm, Ariza lost a lot of time this season to injury, and like Mihm, he'll be exercising his player option to stick around another year. Ariza expresses a couple of times how much he loves playing in L.A. in front of friends and family. In other news:

• He'll be getting another MRI on his foot, just to make sure everything is truly fine.  He's feeling no pain -- definitely important to note -- so this would qualify as precautionary more than anything.  No need to worry.
• The process of picking up the offense.
• What he can bring to the team, in terms of his skill set.
• What he learned from the process of getting to, then losing in, the Finals.

BK

Click below for the video.

No surprise, the majority of the time Mihm spent talking to the media centered on his health. The good news is that he finally feels that he's over the hump and can spend the summer training and working himself back into the sort of condition he was in before the injuries to his ankle and foot.  From a basketball standpoint, the last two seasons have been "lost," so to speak, but Mihm believes next season he'll be back in form. That could have an impact on how the roster is constructed, no question.  Other topics:

• How much he enjoyed and appreciated being part of the playoff process, even though he didn't play much.
• The process of trying to come back, and the obstacles in his way.
• How the team has evolved since he first arrived, and how that impacts his role.
• His contract.  If anyone is curious, he won't be opting out of his player option for 2008-'09.

BK

Click below for the video.

Interesting to hear Ronny talking about next season. It's clear that all things being equal, or reasonably close, he'd like to be in L.A. ("If they want me here, I for sure would want to keep going on this journey I started ... I'm hoping to be. That's for sure. You can write that in big capital headlines.")  But on the other hand, it's hard to tell if he's confident the Lakers will make him the same offer he might get somewhere else. There's a little armchair psychology at work here, no question.  In other news, Ronny talks about:

• His contributions this season, often playing out of position.
• How he feels he can improve.
• What he brings the team.
• Playing on a team with the sort of frontcourt depth next year's Lakers could sport.

BK

Click below for the video.

It was a tough year for Walton, no question, and he talks a lot in here about balancing what were disappointing personal stats with pride in achievement for the team (in essence, not wanting to dwell on the fact he didn't play well, as if that was more important than the success of the group).  His role changed frequently and dramatically this year, as the quality of his teammates improved, which pushed him to the bench and made his minutes more inconsistent. It's something Walton says he'll be better equipped to deal with next season, for sure.  Beyond that, it's the usual -- what he wants to work on this summer, the disappointment of losing in the Finals, how this experience was different for him than his run to the championship round in 2004, etc. 

Click below for the video.

BK

BK is having some Internet issues at the moment, which is preventing us from getting the exit interview videos up posthaste, as they're downloaded onto his computer.  But I'm relaying some copy and observations, just to tide everyone over for a bit.

In order of their appearances:

Ronny Turiaf: Like all of his teammates, Martinique's Favorite Son is still feeling a bit down after the Game 6 collapse and series loss.  But like his teammates as well, he thought the season as a whole was  overwhelmingly positive. "We all want the season to finish with wins and glory and all that stuff, but overall, I thought it was pretty good."  He also seemed much more confident about his desire to return than the Lakers re-signing him.  He mentioned being told by Mitch and Phil that they wanted him back, which suits him just fine and dandy. "You can write that in big capital headline. RONNY TURIAF WOULD LIKE TO BE A LAKER."  Not that he appeared to think it was impossible, but he acknowledged both the salary-cap issues and the roster's front-court "logjam." It's a business decision for both sides, but Turiaf emphasized how he has rarely been part of a losing team, so placing himself in a winning (and happy) environment could be more important than PT. "I think every team in the NBA needs a guy that can just be counted on when people get injured, so if the Lakers wanted me to keep doing that job for the next 3-4 years, I wouldn't mind doing it.  I could sacrifice myself for the greater of the team."

I only caught the tail end of yesterday's conversation between Kobe and members of the media in which he said he "absolutely" (quoting Kobe) wants to stay with the Lakers, and is "open to finishing his career with them" (quoting the report).  I missed the stuff about drop top Impalas and grading Mitch Kupchak, but did manage to hear some interesting bits.  It's obviously good news to hear Kobe say he is, once and for all, happy in Los Angeles, and doesn't want to go anywhere.  That's been the assumption for a while now, but it can't hurt to hear it explicitly expressed.  And while there will likely always be some disconnect between how Kobe and management perceive the events of the last few seasons and the most recent offseason, if everyone is now pushing in the same direction, does it really matter?

I'm sure we'll all continue to debate what happened this summer, what led to it, and what's happened since, just as people still discuss the dissolution of the Threepeat teams.  The important thing for Lakers fans is it now seems highly unlikely that those two debates will be joined by a third, regarding the end of Kobe's career as a Laker.  Not anytime soon, at least.   

As mentioned during Friday's pregame report, Ira Newble talked a bit about his efforts to raise awareness about the atrocities in Darfur.  He's been working with an organization called Aid Still Required (their website currently features a PSA from Kobe Bryant on its homepage), a group looking to spearhead projects that will help the region for the present and the future.  I exchanged emails from Hunter Payne at ASR and found out that PSA's with Trevor Ariza, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton have already been filmed.  A few other Lakers have also expressed interest in getting the word out.We'll eventually link those when they're available.   

Newble was among the first NBA athletes to take on this cause and began actively soliciting participation from others in the game.  Among other subjects, Newble talked about what it means for an athlete of Kobe's profile to get involved and offered an interesting take on why some of the younger players may be reluctant to attach their name to the cause (it's not simply because they're young).  Click on the audio link to hear what he had to say.

AK

Download newble_darfur.mp3

In the first part of my conversation with Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons, we talked a lot about his playing career, and how it impacted his development as a person and a coach.  In the second, we'll spend more time on coaching itself, talking about philosophies, the people who have coached him, and how the Lakers' staff operates as a unit. 

As before, keep in mind that the audio file has the complete interview, and what comes below are excerpts from it.  To hear the entire thing, click on the audio link. Download jim_cleamons_2_coaching.mp3

BK

On the role assistant coaches play in the coaching staff, which has seen so much continuity over the years, and has so much experience.  What’s the dynamic?

“I think we all understand that we are a team of coaches, just like the players are a team on the floor.  Our job is to help PJ prepare the team, and it’s unimportant who gets the glory… We revel in (that) fact, and are very competitive about the job that we do.  It’s not a complicated system, but it’s a very good system of basketball that we teach.  We don’t have an offensive coordinator or a defensive coordinator (as some teams do)…  We kind of transcend all the little phases of the game, and PJ puts it all together.  He is the spokesperson, and the face of our coaching staff…”

“…Sometimes I’m rather quiet, because having been a head coach, sometimes you need the information, but you also need to digest information.  If there are too many voices that you hear, it gets you ultimately confused.  Especially when all of us are saying almost the same thing.  Don’t quibble, let’s just get it done…”

“…We all have different teams that we scout, and in our preparation will have these grandiose ideas, but they have to be applicable and practicable in order to get the job done…” 

Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons has a history with the Lakers that runs back to his rookie season in the NBA, when he was L.A.'s #1 pick in the '71 draft and was a reserve guard on the '71-'72 title team.  He'd go on to have a nine year career with the Lakers, Cavs, Knicks, and Bullets.  His long relationship with Phil Jackson goes back to the '78-'79 season, when they were tammates in New York.  As a coach, Cleamons joined Jackson's staff in Chicago for seven seasons, then again in Los Angeles during the threepeat years.  After a trip to New Orleans to work with Byron Scott, Cleamons came back to L.A. and Jackson's staff last season.  He also has head coaching experience, with the Mavs from '96 into the '98 season.  To say the least, he's seen a great deal over his 35+ seasons in professional basketball.

I had a chance to talk with Cleamons last week at the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo, on topics ranging from his tenure as a player and how it helped shape him as a coach, working with PJ and how the staff operates, and issues on the current squad from Kobe to how they'll have to adjust without Drew. 

Click here for the audio (Download jim_cleamons_1.mp3), and below for some quote pulls (Note: What comes beneath the jump isn't a full transcript.  Call it a highlight reel). 

BK

On how good timing, hard work, and luck all play in to success and winning:

"Without a doubt it's a combination.  The period of time I was born, the people who crossed my path as teachers, as teammates, the competition that I've had to play against and compete against, and the friends that I have as a result of this game.  It's all important.  It's all been, really, a highlight to me.  Nobody else will probably ever really care, but it's part of my experience and a legacy that I very comfortable about, because it is my experience." 

As mentioned in yesterday's brief practice report, I had a chance to talk to Lakers rookie guard Javaris Crittenton for a few minutes Tuesday afternoon.  While he hasn't had a lot of PT thus far, Crittenton is slowly finding his way into the lineup, if only for a minute or two here and there.  But don't confuse lack of run for any sort of disappointment in The Critter on the part of Lakers management.  They like the kid, and should.  By all accounts, he works hard in practice, shows a genuine interest in getting better, has a good attitude, and it's pretty clear Crittenton has some skill.  The good news for the Lakers this season- much improved play in the backcourt- has meant more pine time for him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the rook squeeze out a little more playing time as the season goes on.   The Lakers have the luxury of not having to toss him in the fire.

Patience, folks.

BK

Brian Kamenetzky: You're a quarter of the way through your first NBA season. Talk a little about how you feel you're doing, what's been good, what's been bad. 

Javaris Crittenton: I feel like I'm doing pretty good, and that everything has been progressing since day one.  I've been working hard in practice, working even harder and harder as the season has gone on, and getting a little more time here and there.  At the beginning of the season, for a lot of games I didn't dress, now I'm dressing and playing some minutes.  So I'm just trying to progress. The season will go by quick. 

I talked a bit before yesterday's game with Brian Cook and Mo Evans, former Lakers recently added to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a thus far little-utilized Trevor Ariza.  I wanted to get some perspective from both about their thoughts on the trade itself, what it feels like to learn out of the blue that you've been swapped (as both did) and their thoughts on their present and former squads.  Here's what both had to say.

Andrew Kamenetzky: Had the front office talked to at all in terms of preparing you that a trade could be coming?  Or were you pretty much blindsided?

Brian Cook: I didn't know this was coming at all.  I was blindsided completely.

I don't think it's going out on a proverbial limb to say nobody -- from Laker management to the dudes hawking bootleg tees outside Staples -- was thrilled with Vlad Radmanovic's first season in purple and gold. Nor should they have been, considering what a mess everything from a preseason hand injury to  Snowboardgate made of it. No surprise that Vlad's trying to forget the season ever happened and start from scratch. So far, the results have been promising: 13 ppg, 67% from behind the arc and a serious spike in general activity -- hopeful hints he'll be an important part of this year's rotation. 

"He's a little more comfortable with what's going on out there," said Phil Jackson of the player he famously dubbed a "space cadet" last season. "Obviously, last season he had a terrible start and a terrible end, so he didn't really have an opportunity to perform the way he wanted to."

Jackson has also praised Vlad's size and athleticism, assets he thinks can serve the Serbian sharpshooter in a versatile fashion. The jury's still out on whether Radmanovic will seize this second chance, but he's moving in the right direction. I talked with him after Monday's practice about his increased triangular confidence, appeasing the Laker fans and "Crossing Oceans With Children," tonight's dinner-auction being held in conjunction with the Vladimir Radmanovic Children's Foundation to benefit orphaned kids in Serbia and Montenegro. Here's what he had to say.

At this point, Lamar Odom has been included in a dizzying amount of trade rumors.  So many, in fact, that it wouldn't surprise to hear him linked to a deal with the Ottawa Senators.  But yesterday, L.O. made it very clear he'd like to stick around, in case there was any doubt.  Meanwhile, Andrew Bynum, himself tossed into every deal under the sun, has a contract option that needs to be picked up by the end of the month.  Call it a formality.  As for Kwame Brown, he apologized to his team for the distraction caused by his disorderly conduct charge, but emphasized he wasn't actually in the car when the incident went down.  P.J. emphasized that Kwame needs to be more conscious of his off-court behavior.

And as we continue to provide more verbiage from media day, you can click below the jump for words from Mo Evans and Luke Walton, via AK.

The last 18 months have been anything but a picnic for Chris Mihm, who's ready to resume his playing career after suffering a brutal ankle injury in March 2006.  In Part 1 of our interview, Mihm detailed what it's taken for him to get back on the court.  The second half focuses on the offseason madness, why things went bad for the Lakers down the 2007 stretch, and Mihm's predictions for himself and the Lakers for 2008.  Here's what he had to say:

Andrew Kamenetzky: What do you see as your role this season?  Having been out for a while, do you have expectations for playing time?

Chris Mihm: As far as I'm concerned, we're going into training camp and there's maybe one or two positions, starting-wise, that are filled.  Other than that, it's going to be a competitive training camp.  I'm going in there just like I did the first two years I was here, before I got hurt.  Just like I did my four years before that.  Come in and earn that starting spot.  That's where I want to be.  I definitely want to start, but at the same time I want this team to be a winner.  I want to win.  I want this team to be successful.  I think it can.  I'm not one to be a cancer on a team, but I'm certainly not going to relegate myself without a fight.

It's pretty common for NBA players to talk about anxiously awaiting the start of training camp.  And save perhaps Kobe Bryant, I'm willing to assume every member of the Laker roster shares such sentiments.  But nobody might be champing at the bit more than Chris Mihm.  To say the least, dude is making up for some lost time.  In March 2006, Mihm suffered a horrific ankle injury after coming down on the foot of then-Sonics forward Rashard Lewis.  The original diagnosis was a severe sprain.  Eighteen months, two surgeries, two intensive rehab stints and countless bouts with aggravation later, Mihm is finally ready to resume playing.  How effective he'll be after missing so much time or how many minutes he can snag from Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum remain to be seen, but he's willing to put himself to the test.  I caught up with Mihm this afternoon in El Segundo during a strength workout break, and we discussed topics ranging from the injury's trials and tribulations, the offseason issues between the front office and Kobe, and his predictions for a season many have already written off as a disaster.  Here's Part 1 of what he had to say:      

Andrew Kamenetzky: Between the surgeries, the setbacks, a pretty grueling rehab, then having to reestablish faith around the league, what's this experience been like for you?

Chris Mihm: It was frustrating.  When I found out the full extent of the injury in November, that I would have to have reconstructive surgery on the ankle and realized the scope of time that it would take me to get back and get this ankle healthy, it was really tough.  I've never missed any period of time like that my entire athletic career, whether it was basketball or any sport I've ever participated in.  It was a real learning experience and depressing at first, especially the first couple of months when I was basically couch-bound, watching games.  But I decided to try and find positives out of it.  Try to work on making it make me more mentally tough.  Working on other parts of my body, my upper body.  That's all I did until I was able to start rehabbing the foot was upper-body weights.  I just found a way to be active and stay positive.  It's been a learning, growing experience for me.

At long last, the second half of my interview with Maurice Evans.  Sorry it took a while to get this part finished up, but we've been extremely busy with a few ESPN assignments the last couple of weeks that have required a lot of hours on a plane or in the car.  I could break the excuses down into further and more specific detail, but you'd probably rather just read the interview.  Part I was about Mo's trip to Kenya with the NBA Player Assn.'s "Feeding One Million" campaign.  Part II is more hoops-centric, with topics such as Kobe, K.G. and the upcoming season.  Here's what Evans had to say:

Andrew Kamenetzky:  Moving a little more into basketball, I know there are going to be a lot of Laker fans disappointed that you couldn't parlay your friendship with Kevin Garnett into him wearing purple and gold.  Have you talked to him since the trade? (Note: This interview took place Aug. 3, so the two may have spoken by now.)

Maurice Evans:  No, I haven't talked to Kev.  I haven't gotten a chance to congratulate him on his signing with Boston.  I'm sure I'm gonna see him at some point.  He has a home in L.A. and Malibu.  But I'm happy for him.

UPDATE (8-6): We're on the road today, so expect a delay here and there in comments getting posted.  We'll do our best to keep up, as will HQ.

As some of you may already know, Lakers swingman Maurice Evans recently took part in the NBA Player's Assn.'s "Feeding One Million" campaign, a partnership with Feed The Children to help provide food, clothing, medicine and other essential items to 1 million children in Kenya.  Evans accompanied Ron Artest (Sacramento Kings), Theo Ratliff (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Etan Thomas (Washington Wizards) to Africa, embarking on an eye-opening journey into a plight and poverty most of us are lucky enough to find unimaginable.  I caught up with Mo by phone a few days ago, and we discussed the goodwill mission, how the trip affected him on a personal level and, of course, hoops (Lakers or otherwise).  Here's Part 1 of what he had to say:

Andrew Kamenetzky:  How did you find out about the trip to Kenya?   

Maurice Evans:  Actually, I have been with Feed the Children already prior to that.  They did the "Feed the 5,000," which was feeding 5,000 families in Oakland.  We did that when I was in Detroit.  We fed 5,000 families there.  And last year, with the Lakers, we went to New York and a couple guys from the team were involved with that as well.  (Players Assn. President) Billy Hunter knew that I had been involved in the first two and called me over the summer and asked me if I was interested in doing (the trip to Kenya), and I was like, "without a doubt."  I wanted to help these people.

First, the gridlock.  As you approach Jefferson Blvd. heading north or south on La Cienega, you'll encounter HEAVY construction.  "Sections of one lane" construction.  I'm not sure what's being fixed, but I don't understand why work so intrusive couldn't and shouldn't be done at night.  Unless they're looking for C.H.U.D., of course.  If that's the case, all is forgiven, because those suckers can wreak havoc if left to their own devices.

Why the Public Service Announcement?  Because the resulting traffic caused me to arrive late to Luke Walton's news conference and I missed some Q&A.  Granted, these events typically yield standard copy, so I doubt I missed anything particularly controversial.  Except when Walton said, "If they trade Kobe, big deal.  Dude's a flash in the pan, and it's more shots for me."  (I missed that because I made it up.)  Walton's happy to be back, but did note one downside to his new contract.  Asked if the Lakers were catering the news conference with Joey's BBQ (as they did on draft day), Walton joked how "they were only catering because they wanted me back.  Now that I'm back, no more business from the Lakers."  Walton will now shift to Business Plan B, convincing Sasha Vujacic that the BBQ sauce contains the same base ingredient as "the cream" and "the clear."

Here's (about half of) what Walton had to say:

Because really, who wouldn't want to kick it with cats like me one day removed from a series-deflating loss?  Or because I'm about 95% sure the NBA mandates that coaches address the press each day during the playoffs.  But either way, Phil Jackson was rocking some sandals and taking some inquiries at high noon-thirty.  Here's what was discussed.    

Phil Jackson:  I sent them home today after a short video session and told them to bring their energy back to play a basketball game.  We'll get a practice in tomorrow to do what we have to do to make changes.

By "The L's," I mean Lamar Odom and Luke Walton, who were more than stoked to see their squad come up big during last night's crucial game 3.  And by "The L's," I also mean two guys who would probably kill the Laker marketing department if the team began promoting them as "The L's."  At any rate, here's what they had to say after the smoke had cleared, revealing a Laker victory.

- AK



 

Last night's 118-110 loss to the Clippers marked yet another episode of the Lakers coming apart when it mattered most.  By now, you've gotten gobs of free fall feedback from the principles (Kobe, LO, Phil Jackson, etc.).  Thus, I thought it might be worthwhile to get some perspective from the one active Laker who had nothing to do with the loss (unless you think he was screaming orders from the bench to stop playing defense).  Shammond Williams.  Like the fans, Williams could do nothing but helplessly watch his team go down in flames.  And since he's seen quite a bit of watching during this 2-5 April, I was curious about what he's picked up on.  Here's what he had to say.    

Andrew Kamenetzky:  One of the reasons you were brought in as a free agent was to bring leadership and a veteran perspective for some of the younger players.  What have you talked about with guy during this period when the team's having some trouble getting over the hump? 

Shammond Williams:  Situations are different each and every night.  You have to find the balance and what's going on in the game.  Tonight, clock management would have been real important.  Once you've got that kind of lead, you have to cut the possessions down and make them work so much defensively to stop us.  Get the shots that we want.  The thing about it is, we were getting good shots and we were hitting shots, but defensively, you have to understand in these types of games and others, especially with (the Clippers) being in the position they're in, they're fighting for blood.  You have to understand defensively, this is playoff basketball here.  This is the fourth quarter.  That's playoff basketball.  You have to work defensively to try to keep them from getting what they needed to get.

Here it is, the grand finale of our recent interview with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak.  The teaser and Part I covered everything from how an endless string of injuries may (or in this case, may not) affect the team's trade deadline action to the hypothetical ability to keep big men Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm in the fold down the road.  In our final installment, Kupchak discusses, among other topics, his own playing days, how that NBA experience shaped his GM tenure and Manu-Gate.  Here's what he had to say. 

Brian Kamenetzky: With Kobe this year, so much has been written and said about the changing perception of him and his play.  Whether you want to call it an evolution or a maturation or whatever, he's playing and speaking differently this year than in years past.  Is this something you could see coming?  Have you seen something like this before?  Is there someone you can compare it to? 

Mitch Kupchak: Off the top of my head, no.  But once again, due to an unfortunate circumstance, we were able to have Phil Jackson return last year.  I think their growth together has really made Phil a better coach and I also feel it's made Kobe a better ballplayer.  We were very happy with Rudy Tomjanovich, and I think Kobe would have continued to grow as a player and a person under Rudy, but we'll never know.  But we could have made the wrong choice when Rudy stepped down.  I think we made the right choice.  Because they do have a special bond, the two of them right now, and they're good for each other. 

As everyone from Laker fans to the Park City ski patrol now know, Vladimir Radmanovic's shoulder injury was indeed caused by a snowboarding tumble, as opposed to ice and a sidewalk conspiring to ruin his season.  Vlad came clean yesterday with a statement, then addressed the media.  But that hardly means the incident is dropped.  Jerry Buss made a rare- and unlikely coincidental- pregame locker room cameo, exhibiting a mood that, at its most generous, would be described as "foul."  As for the consequences, he stated he'd "mull it over."  And before enjoying his meal in the media dining room (taco night, BK's favorite!), Mitch Kupchak spoke to reporters.  Despite being pleased that "(Vlad) did a lot of soul searching and decided to come in here and tell the truth," the eventual honesty didn't appear to entirely satisfy the Laker GM.  Kupchak didn't want to get into any specifics regarding potential punishment ("I feel comfortable with our options, but I'd rather not share them with you.") or Vlad's specific contract restrictions, but shared his thoughts on a few other questions. 

On not being surprised by the eventual explanation:
"Well, I mean, when there's a person that goes to a ski resort and they get an injury that's typically associated with a winter activity like that, your antennae goes up.  We talked to him on Tuesday when the players reconvened and he told us what us initially what his explanation was and we believed him.  A player's going to come in, talk to you and tell you what (we) believe to be the truth, then you believe him.  We believe all our players." 

We already provided a small taste of our interview last week with Mitch Kupchak, where he talked about the extended time Kwame Brown will miss due to a bum ankle, the C-Webb saga and the (seemingly remote) odds of any trade deadline action.  Now comes a bigger forkful.  In the sitdown's first part, we discuss everything from Andrew Bynum's progress to to the team's future to Lamar Odom's past struggles with inconsistency (with an optimistically decided emphasis on "past.")  As the K Brothers follow the Lakers' lead in taking a few days off during the All-Star break (but continue chatting away, since comments WILL be updated), we leave you with Kupchak had to say.   

Andrew Kamenetzky:  With the news of Kwame Brown's delayed recovery, there's now more of an onus or pressure on Andrew Bynum in terms of what he needs to bring to the team.  During his rookie season, there was a lot of talk about how the Lakers might not truly know what they have in Andrew for at least a couple years, that he might not be able to contribute before that.  Is he progressing faster than anticipated?

Mitch Kupchak:  Well, nobody expected him to start.  And certainly if Kwame and Chris (Mihm) were here, we probably would not have started.  I don't know what would have happened towards the end of the season, but because of some misfortune to Kwame and Chris, he's gotten thrust into the action.  The initial results were really encouraging and then he kind of leveled off a little bit.  And Kwame was coming back, so Phil (Jackson) had to make a decision.  Andrew is still in the development stages of what it is to become an NBA player, or a great NBA player.  And his body is continuing to change as well.  He's never played this much.  His last two years in high school, because of transferring and injury, he didn't play that much, so he was really learning on the run.  And then Kwame went down again and to Andrew's credit, he saw the opportunity once more to really use what he learned here and try to hold onto that spot.  He's made it clear that he likes starting and that's all fine and good, but in this league, it doesn't really matter what you say, it's what you do

As double-edged luck would have it (the luck being bad for the Lakers, good for blog topicality), we happened to have an interview scheduled with Mitch Kupchak Thursday, a day after the news that Kwame Brown's bum ankle would cost him an extra 4-6 weeks of PT.  There's obviously much more to come from our discussion with the Lakers GM, but we wanted to get this portion up ASAP, as it addresses recent reader chatter involving both a trade for frontcourt reinforcement and "almost frontcourt reinforcement" Chris Webber, who toyed with the idea of donning a Laker uni (and helped tear apart L.A. last night while wearing a Pistons uni).  The rest of the interview will start popping up next week.     

Brian Kamenetzky:  How does the news that Kwame Brown could be out another 4-6 weeks impact what you might have to do at the trade deadline?

Mitch Kupchak:  Well, there was never an expectation, in terms of him being back in a day or two.  Our medical people had always indicated that (Kwame) is still couple weeks away.  So we didn't expect him back ten days ago, but ten days ago, we were hopeful that maybe he'd be back in two weeks or so. 

I feel bad for the younger generation of Lakers fans who perhaps only know Aaron McKie as "that dude who's spent his entire Laker career injured." The lack of additional reference points means missing out on a series of nice years with the Sixers, including 2001 — the season Philly lost to the Lakers in the finals — when he nabbed the sixth Man of the Year award (and cemented his rep as a pro's pro). Of course, I feel worse for McKie himself, who obviously had bigger plans upon signing as a free agent than offering moral support and modeling suits from the sideline.

The 2006 season was a wash for the cagey vet, a quadriceps tear limiting him to a grand total of 14 games and seven points. And no, I don't mean, 7ppg. I mean, literally, seven points.

McKie hoped to make up for lost time this season, but a balky back suffered during training camp has thus far put the kibosh on that plan.  A combination of increased health and Jordan Farmar rolling an ankle led to McKie being activated for the first time this season last Tuesday against the Clippers. He didn't see any action and it's not a given that Phil Jackson will save space for him once Farmar (and Ronny Turiaf, whose hips are on the mend) can play again. Then again, with Sasha Vujacic and Shammond Williams logging minutes ranging from "sporadic" to "none," McKie continuing to suit up for games isn't out of the question.

In any event, I thought now was as good a time as any to catch up with the vet to find out how this injury-plagued period has weighed on his psyche and how he's attempted to contribute while healing up. Hit the jump and see what he had to say.

Andrew Bynum has only been an NBA player for one season, but already carries a few distinctions.  The last high school kid drafted as a lottery pick (and unless the league changes its recently implemented rules, that ain't changing anytime soon).  A definitive symbol of the Lakers rebuilding for the future.  A would-be heir to the throne held by a string of dominant purple and gold big men.  It's a lot to throw on the shoulders of a project more raw than a side of uncooked beef, but that's about the size of things for Bynum these days.  The kid who hasn't spent a year as a legal voter has an undeniably full plate as he prepares for his second season.

Bynum's rookie campaign was a mix of occasional highlights (those three minutes against Shaq trail only "81" and the Lakers-Suns series as the 2006 season's most exciting moment), typical rookie lumps (not much meaningful action from March on) and learning (basically every minute he was awake).  His sophomore effort will be closely watched as the kid gloves slowly get removed in evaluating Bynum's progress.  Fans will still need to show patience, and in turn, the young center will need to show more consistency.  We caught up with Bynum by phone on Tuesday to find out his thoughts on a rookie season passed, his expectations for 2007, and the pressures involved with picking up where the Big Fella left off.  Here's what he had to say.

Andrew Kamenetzky: So how's your offseason been going?

Andrew Bynum: My offseason's been going pretty well.  I had a decent summer league and I've been working out hard all summer.  I took only four weeks off the whole summer.  Two in the beginning and two when I went to Aruba. And then I came back and started working out again.

AK: How was Aruba?

AB: Aruba was really nice, what everyone talks about.  It was nice weather and everything.  White beaches.  A nice little getaway.

AK: How hard was it to get back into the gym after a couple weeks in Aruba?

AB: It wasn't very hard.  I have to admit, I was missing the gym a little bit.  There was no way for me to really work out in Aruba.  I was in great shape and then I kind of lost it a little bit, so I was anxious to get back in the gym.

In the first part of our interview with Lakers Assistant GM Ronnie Lester, we covered the "science" of drafting, what the Lakers planned to do with their picks, and the development of Andrew Bynum, among other topics. In the second installment, we talk a little more draft, some trade rumors, summer league, and whether or not there will be a spot available for me or AK. Not to give anything away...but there isn't.

—BK

Brian Kamenetzky: You talked about how scouting isn't an exact science.  Who is a guy that you thought would be great that didn't pan out, or a guy that you thought was underrated going into the draft that panned out?  Whether you drafted them or not?

Ronnie Lester: That's a tough question. You can go back. I can't name anybody off the top of my head, but if you go back and look at the drafts the last 12, 14 years, you can always find guys that went pretty high in the draft and didn't have really good NBA careers for whatever reasons. Injuries may have played a part. And you can find other guys that were second-round picks who have gone on to have great careers, and play a long time. Cedric Ceballos comes to mind as a second-round pick out of Fullerton back in I think the late '80s, maybe '90, who was a mid-second-round pick that went on to have a great career. Guys like that. But if you go back and look at the media guide, the draft book, you can find tons of instances, I think, of guys like that.

From the moment the Lakers' season came to an end, Lakers Blog has been abuzz with folks debating which kid in an oversize, flashy, custom-tailored suit the team should draft on June 28. Aside from the fact that it's fun to debate the merits of Guillermo Diaz vs. Shannon Brown vs. Thabo Sefolosha (who has half of our readers convinced he's "the one," despite having never seen the cat play a minute's worth of ball), whoever the Lakers select two Wednesdays from now represents another brick in the wall of a house being rebuilt.

Thus, we thought it would be a good idea to talk on Monday with Ronnie Lester, assistant GM of the Los Angeles Lakers. Aside from being Mitch Kupchak's right hand man, Lester is the big Kahuna when it comes to Lakers scouting. If there's a young 'un worth checking out, better believe Lester or a member of his staff has checked him out. Like every team in the league, the Lakers aren't big on tipping their hat pre-draft, so there weren't any specific potential draftees confirmed or denied as possibilities. But we got a good idea about the ins and outs of the process, as well some insights about the upcoming free agency period, trade possibilities, what the team is looking for come summer-league time, and other items. Here's what he had to say.

Brian Kamenetzky: I think one of the things Laker fans may not know is what your specific job is, what areas you cover around the league.

Ronnie Lester: I do a little bit of a lot of things, to be honest with you. I originally worked for the Lakers as a scout from '87 to 2001 before I came here to be Mitch's assistant. And it was basically college scouting. (Now) I have an office job. I'm in the office everyday. Still scouting. I like to scout. I like to get out there and see the kids. I think that's one of the things I do best. Being in the office, I put the last four or five summer league teams together, the kids that play for us in our summer league program. Being in the office, you talk to a lot of agents. You develop a lot of relationships with agents. Scouting has changed so much now. When I started, it was basically watching college kids play and evaluating them. Mostly upperclassmen. Then the younger kids started coming out, the freshmen and sophomores. Then high school kids started coming out. Then we started going to Europe five or six years ago, with the European players coming over here. So scouting has changed so much since I started in the late '80s to where it is today.

Next on the exit press conference list, Lamar Odom.  Dickens had A Tale of Two Cities, L.O. had A Tale of Two Seasons- the first and second halves.  His splits show increased scoring and assists after the All Star Break, but there is no stat to measure the increased confidence and assertiveness he showed on the court.  Here's what L.O. had to say on his way out, with a very busy summer in front of him. 

BK

On his meeting with PJ-

"It was cool.  Just talked about some of the things I've got coming up this summer, as far as auditioning to go play in the World Games, what I plan to do to keep in shape.  Talked about the season I had, my position, where I like to play, where I'm most comfortable at- a question you (the media) often ask me."

You guys are still talking about that?

"This is the time to talk about it.  I'm most comfortable playing towards my mismatches.  Big guy on me, take him outside.  Small guy on me, take him inside.  In the triangle, I was comfortable in learning how to control the tempo from that position, playing the guard spot.  So next year I figure most likely it'll be the same role.  Now that I know the offense, of course I feel a lot more comfortable in it.  I guess I'm just looking forward to staying in shape this summer, coming back here, and getting back at it again.  It was an emotional ride, especially towards the end of the season for us, as far as fighting for a playoff position, making it to the playoffs, being up three on Kobe's shot, and now we're on the outside looking in.  Phoenix played great ball to come back from 3-1.  I take my hat off to them because they beat us." *

*L.O., a sensitive guy as it is, was clearly still taking the playoff loss hard... which is a good thing.  You wouldn't want guys to blow it off. 

On satisfaction they can take from what they did accomplish this season-

"When we look back at it, we look back at the beginning of last year, and of course not picked to make the playoffs, not playing in the postseason.  So to be able to fight and coming together late in the year and taking the 7th spot, (and) be six seconds away from advancing.  We had a great year, but you know, of course it hurts."

On finding stability this summer-

"I hope so.  I understand the business of basketball.  But I hope and I pray that this is my home, and this is where I'll end my career.  It's a great franchise, and they have great people here.  This has got to be one of the coolest places to play basketball.  You have Denzel Washington at the games, Jack's at the games, (Lakers P.R. chief) John Black's at the games, Brad Turner (of the Press Enterprise) is at the games (at this point, L.O. is having a little fun...).  This is a good place to play basketball.  Last year we didn't make the playoffs and this year, we were playing in the first round.  Playing in Staples Center was amazing and the energy that was in that building was incredible.  You know, I'd love to see that for the rest of my career."

Monday in El Segundo, the Lakers gathered for their exit meetings with the coaching staff... and to face the local media one last time.  We'll be bringing you the transcripts throughout the week, starting today with Phil Jackson (he's the coach, for those of you just tuning in...).

BK

On the progress of his exit meetings thus far-

"They're holding themselves responsible for so much for the game on Saturday.  I have to get them to let go of that and realize the finale of Thursday night's game led to a certain buoyancy to Phoenix's game and a certain aspect of our own game that contributed to that loss.  And not to go by that.  It's hard to judge seventh games, as I told you guys (after the game).  Those things sometimes are steam rollers, and there's nothing you can do.  Get out of the way, it's an avalanche, and that's how it was for us.   But there are things you can do to prevent that.  We weren't able to do that in the first six minutes, and then it got to be the avalanche." 

On thinking about what could have been done differently in the series-

"Well, we felt like we could have won, the first four games were really pretty good.  They got an offensive rebound and a three point play in the first game, and they got an offensive rebound and a three point play in the sixth game.  It gave them the ability to win a couple of games.  We took one in game number four in that series.  Game number five was difficult, because we had that whole issue that jumped in our face and distracted the team a little bit.  We had some things that stood in our way during the series that we just should not have in a normal series.  But they learn.  And this is a growing experience.  I don't in any way believe that this team could have won a championship.  We were all the time about getting to the playoffs and making noise in the playoffs.  That's been my whole message to these guys, and we did that.  We accomplished a goal.  So we met a goal, and I'm trying to make sure that they understand that.  That we met that goal, and that's the important aspect about this season.  They were able to rise to that occasion.  What we learn from the experience that we have is what's ultimately the important thing.  That this does not happen again to these players when they get into this opportunity or situation.  Or to this team."

In his four years as a Laker, Brian Shaw never averaged more than 5.3 points or 3.2 assists, yet he had a profound effect on the team during their threepeat run.  A steadying influence on the court and a respected presence in the locker room, Phil Jackson leaned on Shaw for crunch time minutes, and was usually rewarded.  He used to be a coach on the floor.  Now he's a Laker assistant and, more than likely, a future NBA head coach.  I had a chance to talk with Shaw Tuesday afternoon at the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo. 

Brian Kamenetzky:  Talk about the process of coaching for you, moving from being a player to being a coach.

Brian Shaw:  The first year I stopped playing, Phil told me I needed to kind of distance myself from the guys a little bit, because it was all the guys I played with, so I could come back and have more of a respect factor from the coaching angle and not just be so buddy, buddy with everybody.  But it was still kind of tough because you still feel like you can play.  The toughest thing is standing up in practice in one spot for two hours and not moving.  I've never had any problems with my back, but now my back is constantly tight just from standing around.  So I want to get out there and actually get into some drills and get moving so that everything kind of loosens up. 

BK:  Do you have to fight that urge?

BS:  Yeah, I do.  And then a lot of times what ends up happening after practice is that some of the young guys will challenge you.  So I end up playing three on three or playing some of the shooting games and then that kind of keeps me connected. 

As promised, here's the second part of my interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Like I said in Part I, so much to talk about, so little time. A staggering array of athletic, intellectual, and cultural significance, to say the least. Ridiculous understatement of 2006: "The Captain" has done a little living. But it's better hearing him describe it than me, so let's get right to it.

Andrew Kamenetzky: In terms of your coaching career, it's been a pretty tough road for you to get where you're at, especially for a guy with your credentials. How hard was it to persevere and believe you'd eventually get where you wanted to be?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: For a long time, I thought it wasn't going to happen. And then I had the opportunity in 2002 to coach in the the USBL (the Oklahoma Storm). And everything went the way it was supposed to be. You win a championship (in the first season). I had never been an X and O guy, but I did know how to keep the team together, keep them focused and do the things that they needed to do to win... That really gave me some confidence that I could handle an assignment if I got the opportunity.

AK: You're known for taking a very intellectual approach to life in a way that's different from a lot of sports figures. Did it bother you to see your communication skills questioned on such a level?

KAJ: It bothered me, but a lot of it was my fault. Just because of my whole history. I was just naturally suspicious. That's just something that I had to overcome. I was always felt that the less said, the better. You can't do that. And getting a head coaching job in Oklahoma really helped me see that... You really see how the coach is the interface for so many things. The team with the press. The team with the public. The team against other teams. You're right there in the middle of it and you have to be able to communicate and lead and make sure that certain things happen. That really made me understand what I hadn't been doing.

Wow. Where to begin this introduction? 38,387 points? 3 NCAA titles? 6 NBA titles, matching the league MVP tallies? 50 Greatest Players status and HOF membership? Or just the classic "Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes." Any way you slice it, summarizing the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar into a neat little paragraph is no walk in the park.

Fortunately, that won't be necessary, since "The Captain" was kind enough to put much of it into his words for the blog. I sat down with Abdul-Jabbar last week (Brian needed to be in San Fran for an ESPN The Magazine assignment we're working on) and discussed everything from Andrew Bynum's potential to Kareem's friendship with Bruce Lee. Needless to say, I wasn't hurting for questions to ask. Here is the first of two parts. 


Andrew Kamenetzky: Well, your pupil Andrew Bynum had a heck of a night against Miami.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Yeah. He got intense and he rose to the occasion. I was happy to see him respond like the way he did. I thought it was real competent and competitive response.

AK: How's he progressing thus far, in your mind? Before the season started, there was talk about him spending time in the NBDL and he's actually been capable in spurts of getting actual minutes. Is he further along than you guys thought when you drafted him?

KAJ: I don't know what the thinking was when they took him, because he got here before I did. But I certainly think he's starting to reach that point where he can handle the minutes. I don't know how quickly they want to bring him along, and that's totally up to Phil, Mitch and those guys. But he's learning the things that he needs to learn and I think it's good for him that there's not all that pressure on him to come in and be the savior right away.

AK: What specifically are you looking to work on with him, at this level?

KAJ: Basically, right now, we're just doing mechanics. And I try to get as much context that I can, but until he can get into the game and play and see what it's like on the court, that's difficult. We can set up things in practice more or less mimicking real situations. But it's not the real thing... But that's (still) good, because it gets him thinking about the reality of it. And when it occurs during game time and he's in there, he's shown that his responses are definitely improved.

As we expected, part one of our interview with basketball journalist and frequent commenter Roland Lazenby sparked plenty of blogosphere yapping. Lazenby (whose books include Mad Game: The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant, Mindgames: Phil Jackson's Long Strange Journey, and Blood on the Horns: The Long Strange trip of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls) has a new work on stands, The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It. It’s an A-Z look at the franchise’s history, from Mikan’s past to Kobe’s future. Here’s the second part of our discussion.




Brian Kamenetzky: One of the great things for me, as someone who grew up in a city without pro hoops, was reading about the league in the 50s and 60s, when it was, to say the least, very different than it is now.  How much fun is it for you to go back to that era?  Do you look back on it with a kind of romantic view?

Roland Lazenby: Not all that much. The NBA was gritty, but not very appealing then. The Celtics won championships but couldn't even sell out their home opening each season. I have those feelings for the Magic/Bird era, an exceptional time. And I love the Bulls era. (Michael's heroics put some money in my pocket as a writer). But those Bulls teams played the right way, and were just so damn good. Those Laker teams were just starting to warm to that level, but they never got there. Too much conflict.

Andrew Kamenetzky: How much do you think the Showtime era did for the NBA?

RL: The same thing the doctor did for me when he smacked me on the fanny. It was a complete rebirth. Showtime was so great. Then the Magic and Larry thing got going. I've written before that it was Camelot. The greatest running team of all time? Magic Johnson? Kareem? Norm Nixon? Coop? Worthy? Byron Scott? McAdoo? Rambis? I sometimes get more excited watching reruns of those guys on ESPN Classic than I do a live game. Not always. What Kobe is doing this season is dramatic. But those Showtime teams were golden.

BK: I know it was basically my introduction to pro basketball.  Bird vs. Magic, what seemed like every Saturday on national television.

RL: That's true for most of America. Fact is, many people have some memory of pro basketball. Seeing an exhibition game when it came to their town. Or watching a dim old broadcast on ABC. But in the early days pro basketball was a mostly northeastern game. People who lived in that area of the country comprised a small core of loyal fans. But basketball today is a global game. I've written for a Japanese magazine for the last 10 years. Magic and Larry and Michael made people care. Everywhere.

Tonight's victory against the Cavs was a great win for the Lakers. And by the the Lakers, I mean, the Lakers. All of them. Everybody who stepped on the floor tonight made a difference. Yeah, Kobe put the game on ice, showing yet again why he's the NBA's clutchest cat. But there was a long stretch where Bryant's wrist kept him on the bench, and the supporting cast put everything on their shoulders. Odom was an assist shy of a triple double. Devean and Sasha hit some huge shots. Kwame pulled down nine boards. Four Lakers in double figures. Good stuff indeed, and proof positive that everybody in the rotation can be held accountable. And should be, for that matter.

But does it begin with Kobe or the other dudes? They can't step up regularly unless Kobe dominates the ball less. But until they step up regularly, Kobe will (and perhaps has to) dominate the ball. Catch freakin' 22, indeed. From the outside looking in, it appears like a difficult balancing act. Talking a bit with Mihm confirmed that theory. But he's determined to do his part in evening the scales, a mission the entire squad needs to accept if they want to find themselves in the playoffs.

For quite some time, more than a few readers have requested an interview with basketball journalist and frequent Lakers Blog poster Roland Lazenby. Well, request ye no more, folks. We IM'ed yesterday for around 90 minutes with Lazenby (whose books include Mad Game: The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant, Mindgames: Phil Jackson's Long Strange Journey, and Blood on the Horns: The Long Strange trip of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls). His new book, The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It, is a comprehensive history of the franchise from the days in Minneapolis to the second Phil Jackson era. It's a great read, guaranteed to satisfy even the most hardcore fan's purple and gold Jones. Here's the first part of our discussion.

Andrew Kamenetzky: How long did you spend researching and writing this book? What was the biggest challenge involved with writing a book spanning this much time and history?

Roland Lazenby: Well, I've spent about 18 years covering the NBA, so a lot of interviews I've done over the years. Always when I was doing projects, there were lots of extra things discussed in the interviews that never made it into the projects. So when I finally got a chance to do an oral history about the Lakers, I did ne