ESPN

L.A. is now in Day 11 of Ramonpalooza, the festival of appreciation aimed toward point guard Ramon Sessions following his acquisition from the Cavs on deadline day. (My Morning Jacket will be appearing shortly on the main stage.) It's easy to go overboard, but his presence really has represented a sea change for the Lakers.

Friday, we noted the ways in which Sessions has improved the team's offense, goosing efficiency with high-percentage shots either for himself or teammates, many coming in transition, plus an ability to get himself (and teammates) to the line. And this was before he made his debut as a starter, lighting up the Blazers for 20 points and 11 assists Friday night at Staples. The game was significant not only for his impressive numbers but how Sessions affected the action down the stretch. In a still competitive game, Sessions dominated the fourth quarter with eight points and six assists as the Lakers piled up 32 points, all while Kobe Bryant happily took only one shot in the final 12 minutes.

It's a brave new world, folks.

Sunday, the Lakers get another good test against the Memphis Grizzlies, the same team L.A. edged in double-OT not even two weeks ago at FedEx Forum. That night, the Lakers were carried by Andrew Bynum (37 points) and Bryant (34) but only had one other player in double figures (Pau Gasol, with 14). Meanwhile, the Grizzlies got a career night from Marreese Speights, one of six Grizzlies with 10 points or more. Normally, when teams meet twice in a small window, the first game can be instructive. Not here.

The Lakers played that night with Derek Fisher and without Sessions. Memphis was missing not only Zach Randolph, but also Rudy Gay. They've also added Gilbert Arenas as a free agent, giving him real minutes in his first two games. The cast on the floor Sunday will be very different on both sides.

With that in mind, here are three things to watch:

1. Z-Bo vs. Pau Gasol.

In five games since returning from a knee injury, Randolph has been solid: 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds, while shooting nearly 47 percent in about 31 minutes a night. Pretty good, but not the walking double-double he was in a dominant 2010-11 season. At some point, Randolph will round into form. If it's Sunday, the Lakers (and specifically Pau Gasol) have one more tough cover. Friday against Portland, the Lakers, who rarely do this sort of thing, were forced to bring doubles against LaMarcus Aldridge in the first half before order was restored in the second. If the same thing happens Sunday, the Grizzlies -- not a good half-court team offensively -- might find some lanes opening up that would otherwise be closed. The more extra rotations the Lakers have to make, the more wing players such as Gay can attack or Marc Gasol, who needed 25 shots to get 20 points in Memphis, can get easy looks on putbacks and open feeds at the bucket.

2. Kobe Bryant vs. Tony Allen.

Allen is among the league's most active defenders, one of the few guys capable of making Kobe's life truly difficult. On the ball, he can be very hard to beat, but while the Lakers had periodic success with Bryant operating away from the ball at points this season, with Sessions on board they have the means to do it more effectively and more consistently. Closer to the rock, the potential for good 1/2 or 2/1 pick and rolls could give Allen and Mike Conley looks they haven't seen much against L.A. Bottom line, as Mike Brown and Bryant noted after Friday's win, with Sessions the Lakers have so many more ways to attack, making them much tougher to prepare for.

Still, despite some weakness (see below) the Grizzlies constitute a very solid test for the revamped offense. They'll be at full strength, making them the best defensive team the Lakers have seen since acquiring Sessions, more effective than a Dallas squad missing Shawn Marion. Moreover, no team in the NBA is better at forcing turnovers, and Synergy rates them as the league's second most productive team in transition, meaning mistakes on the offensive end won't go unpunished.

3. L.A. vs. expectations.

Memphis is a dangerous team, one nobody will want to see in the postseason -- unless perhaps the postseason started today. The Grizzlies have dropped five of six overall, including Saturday afternoon to a slumping Clippers squad, and four of five on the road, and are just 9-14 outside Memphis overall. Perhaps it's because they don't score much, averaging only 91.2 points on the road compared to 99.1 at home. Nor have they been very good against teams over .500, going just 10-17. All told, Memphis' talent says it's a game the Lakers could absolutely lose, while the numbers say they really should win.

Ever since the Lakers were swept out of the 2011 playoffs and Phil Jackson waved goodbye, questions have swirled like a tornado on a Red Bull high. Does a Bryant-Gasol-Bynum-Odom core still qualify as a championship foundation? What about Bryant-Gasol-Bynum? Can Mike Brown pick up where the most successful coach in NBA history left off? Similarly, can an increasingly prominent Jim Buss maintain the standard of excellence established by his old man?

What direction is the Lakers franchise heading?

After 34 games, every riddle hasn't been solved, and it's probably fair to say the hints dropped haven't eased Laker Nation's nerves. The remaining 32 will be analyzed equally as basketball and tea leaves to get a bead on this campaign -- and beyond. Here are eight things potentially shaping whatever answers are discovered.

1. Who's on the roster come March 16?
Without question, the biggest question as the second half commences. Ever since the preseason, a dark, persistent cloud has loomed in the form of roster holes. It's essentially Swiss cheese beyond the Big Three, making tweaks seem mandatory if the Lakers truly are in it to win it this season. (They are in it to win it this season, right?) Unless you happen to be an All-Star guard who commutes by helicopter, consider yourself expendable in the face of change.

Of course, what could define "change" remains a Hitchcockian mystery.

Are we talking Gilbert Arenas plucked off the street? A B-level point guard and/or small forward acquired through the Lamar Odom trade exception? (The ears of Michael Beasley and Ramon Sessions are burning.) And it's important to note that on March 1, new faces Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy are eligible for relocation. Like all their fellow role players, none are likely to blow up Mitch Kupchak's phone, but the literal ability to move them expands options. Especially if the front office pursues a blockbuster involving Pau Gasol and/or Andrew Bynum, which may require smaller pieces to balance numbers.

From there, implementing new faces becomes the goal. There's no telling how everyone will click, much less whether they can jell fast enough to make a Finals run.

(Read full post)

Never a dull moment in Laker Land. By definition, that makes for a lively Laker chat.

Among the talking points were Pau Gasol's future in L.A., how Michael Beasley (reportedly on the front office radar) would fit in L.A., and the likelihood of new faces after the trade deadline. Plus, a shout out to "Chaz!"

Click here for the transcript.

The room has closed for business, but you can still check out the conversation. Among the talking points: Gilbert Arenas vs. J.R. Smith... Mike Brown vs. Metta World Peace... and the trade deadline vs. the limited resources at Mitch Kupchak's disposal.

Plus, a reader suspects the Kamenetzky wives don't realize how fortunate they are being married to Lakers bloggers. Clearly, luckier stars have never been discovered.

Everything can be found by clicking the link here.

As I reported earlier today, should Gilbert Arenas transition from working out for the Lakers to working for them, that's just fine with Kobe Bryant. The Mamba didn't say much on the matter, but made it clear he'd be fine sharing a locker room with Agent Zero. "It certainly wouldn't hurt, that's for sure," responded Kobe when asked if the former-three time All-Star was needed. I liked Kobe's answer when asked what the pride of Van Nuys could bring to the table.

"Hibachi."

Of course, we're a few years -- and a few guns -- removed from Gilbert Arenas' days as a premiere scorer. The injury-prone, famously flaky guard hasn't resembled the dude making him one of the NBA's best for quite some time. A good workout is promising, but it's quite another thing for that showing to translate into NBA usefulness on a game-in, game-out basis. Until demonstrated otherwise, Arenas is a big name in name-only.

Brian has expressed apprehension about Arenas, and among the reasons he cited was the time spent trying to integrate the guard. The most recent evidence suggests Arenas isn't very good anymore, and there's no guarantee he'll be a good fit. Thus, he could end up an exercise in square pegs and round holes. That time spent getting Gilbert up to speed might not just be a waste, but could also potentially disrupt whatever progress the Lakers might make moving forward. A few weeks ago, I actually agreed with my brother, largely because I was willing to believe more practice and rest could yield signs of improvement.

But with the Grammy Trip in the books and signs of genuine forward progress few and far between, I'm reminded of a classic 'Seinfeld' scene. The gang's at a cock fight to watch Kramer's rooster "Little Jerry Seinfeld" do battle. In the meantime, Elaine informs Jerry she's mulling over a marriage proposal from her latest boyfriend, and the following exchange takes place:

Jerry: Marriage is a big step, Elaine. Your life will totally change.

Elaine: Jerry, it's three-thirty in the morning. I'm at a cock fight. What am I clinging to?

That's kind of how I feel about Arenas at this point. As presently constructed, the Lakers roster doesn't have the weapons to run an efficient offense, or Mike Brown simply can't figure out how to use what's in front of them. Either way, I anticipate a lot of limbo. Some games the Lakers will catch fire. Others, they'll crash and burn. But you get a sense things are largely what they are. Arenas theoretically provides a few skills this team could use. If he's 60-70 percent of what he once was, that's probably enough to offer at least some utility. If not, the Lakers really are no worse off, because staying the course leaves no margin for error to begin with. Another two months spent walking a razor's edge and this team will undoubtedly slip.

Again, what are they clinging to?

(Read full post)

ESPNLA.com's Dave McMenamin has the news:

"While the Los Angeles Lakers were in Toronto on Sunday finishing off their six-game road trip, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was holding a private workout for free agent guard Gilbert Arenas, according to multiple sources. Arenas, who turned 30 last month, looked "slimmed down" and "explosive," according to a source with knowledge of the workout, but no signing is necessarily imminent as the guard flew back to his home in Orlando, Fla., from Los Angeles on Sunday night."

A couple weeks ago, as conversation surrounding Arenas increased, I laid out some of the reasons I wasn't wild about adding him to the roster, ranging from doubts about his health to the time and effort it would require to integrate him into the offense.

And I wonder how good Arenas will actually be, given his awful performance last season.

On the other hand, the Lakers obviously need help, something no less apparent in the seven games between that post and this one. This roster, despite a couple solid wins on the trip, isn't good enough to advance deep into the postseason and signs of real growth are tough to find. Arenas, at least in theory, ticks a few boxes on the need list, namely another guy who can create off the dribble, more perimeter shooting, and a secondary source of offense off the bench. The big caveat to my initial post centered around what else the Lakers might do heading into the deadline to improve this year's team.

If the Lakers have a real desire to upgrade now and a willingness to use resources (however limited) to get it done, experimenting with Gilbert doesn't make much sense. If they don't, it's worth trying to capture lightning in a bottle. My feel, and it's just that, is the Lakers are holding all their chips until Dwight Howard has a new home, meaning if the price for less-than-star-level-but-wholly-useful guys like Ramon Sessions gets too high, Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss won't bite.

The interesting thing about Arenas isn't so much how well he'll play, but what he represents. Should the former Agent Zero land in El Segundo, it could very well mean the front office is just crossing its fingers on the 2011-12 season and will try to reconstruct a more viable contender in the more structured environment of the summer.

It was a lively day in the chat-o-sphere, as one would expect with an erratic road trip halfway in the books.

Among the talking points were potential trade targets (Rondo, Sessions, Howard, etc.), the role of Andrew Goudelock upon Steve Blake's return and Mike Brown's rotations. Plus, fare thee well, Derrick Caracter.

For those who couldn't attend, here's a link to the transcript.

Fifteen is now 14.

Tuesday afternoon, the Lakers released second-year forward Derrick Caracter.

Selected with the 58th pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, the UTEP-via-Louisville product, who suffered a knee injury during the preseason, hadn't appeared in a game with the Lakers. In four games with the NBDL's Los Angeles D-Fenders, he averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes.

Last season, Caracter shuttled between the D-League and the big club, played 41 games for the Lakers, averaging 2.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.2 minutes. He's a guy with some skill around the basket. Pretty good hands and good feet given his size. Unfortunately, the size issue with Caracter still constitutes a problem. For him to carve out a long NBA career -- and I do think he'll get a chance to play again in the league -- D.C. will definitely need to get slimmer and stronger.

(Read full post)

ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reports the Lakers are considering Gilbert Arenas.

No signing, he says, is imminent. Or imminent adjacent. The Lakers would still need to schedule a workout (sound strategy), maybe two, and an interview as well, meaning it's a little early to get that jersey made up with his name on the back. Still, that the Lakers would even throw the idea around the war room is an admission the roster isn't championship caliber, and as long as he's out there, the Lakers are thin at guard, and struggle to score, The Gilbert Question remains.

So is it a good idea?

The Lakers lack ball handling, shot creators, perimeter shooting, and reliable bench scoring. In theory, at least, Arenas ticks all four boxes. He'll be cheap (all the Lakers can give him is a prorated veteran's minimum) and can be cut at the first sign of trouble. Sounds like the classic no harm, no foul scenario, right?

Yes, on the surface. Scratch a little and there are good reasons to say no. Here are three:

1. Signing Arenas means cutting a player. Not necessarily tragic, but still a consideration. My guess is Derrick Caracter would get the axe. (None of the guards could be released, because if Arenas didn't work out they'd need the dudes they already have. Some fans would want Luke Walton to go, but actually doing it would be a massive waste. They'd still have to pay him anyway, and would then lose the chance to include him in a trade next season when his expiring contract might have value.) Is it worth losing the rights to a young player with at least some potential for a flier on Arenas?

2. Signing Arenas means integrating Arenas. Integrating Arenas takes time. The Lakers are already a third of the way through the compressed season. If they're only now considering the concept of Arenas, kicking the tires on the actual Arenas is still days away, at least. At the earliest, he's in signed in maybe a week? Ten days? The guy hasn't played since the end of last season, so he'll be knocking off a ton of rust while the Lakers attempt to integrate him into the rotation. Any quick injection of scoring punch is highly unlikely.

He's a high-usage, high-volume player. It's pointless to bring in Arenas without legitimately featuring him in one form or another. There's an investment involved. If Arenas doesn't work out, the swaths of playing time and already scarce practice reps devoted to him won't have gone to the guys remaining when the experiment ends, stunting whatever growth the Lakers can muster over the course of the year. The circumstances for developing continuity this year are already difficult.

Leading me to ...

(Read full post)

It wasn't easy, but the Lakers officially have their second road win of the season.

We break it down in tonight's edition of Lakers Late Night, hitting the following highlights:

• A bounce back game offensively for Pau Gasol, who finished with 28 points on 11-of-15 from the floor, pairing nicely with another highly productive game from Kobe Bryant (35 points, 14 rebounds). Add in another 21 from Andrew Bynum, and the Lakers got the sort of production they need from their Big Three, because behind them the output is spotty at best.
• L.A.'s problem's attacking Minnesota's zone offense, which fueled a big comeback for the Timberwolves.
• The total inability to secure the defensive glass.
• The "Gilbert Question."

All of that, plus the return of an old friend.

Vibrant conversation this morning. No surprise in light of Monday's result.

If you missed it, or simply want to re-live it, click here for the transcript.

As far as ideas go, it's probably New Coke, the escalator to nowhere, and Andy's plan to invent and market indoor home misting machines rolled into one.

So much could, and perhaps should be expected to, disappoint. Or worse.

But if he's willing to come and they're willing to crack open the house safe for a few extra bucks, the Lakers should invest in Gilbert Arenas. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, L.A.'s interest in Arenas is, to say the least, tepid. I get it. He is a little goofy, and pretty temperamental. The history is spotty, from the gun incident/suspension to an extensive injury history. All told, over the last 300-plus games for which he's been an NBA player, Gilbert has played in barely a third of them. Then there's the question of whether or not he's actually any good anymore. It's been a while since Arenas was much more than a volume scorer, dragging some real inefficiency along the way.

He was awful in Orlando last year after the big midseason trade shipping him to the Magic and sending Rashard Lewis north to Washington.

But here's the thing: Arenas is, far as I can tell, the only (potentially affordable) free agent out there who can still score a little, and create a shot for himself (even if not like the days of yore) and teammates alike. The Lakers will improve their execution with practice and increased familiarity. They'll learn the system, they'll learn each other. It'll take some patience, but it'll happen. But at the risk of making sweeping judgments following one preseason game, the Lakers can't bleed rocks. The roster currently sports exactly one shot creator in Kobe Bryant, and only three ballhandlers in Bryant, Steve Blake, and Derek Fisher. And with Fish, there are legitimate questions about how well he'll function as a traditional guard outside the triangle.

Mike Brown tried to put a happy spin on things when asked him the other day about the hole behind Kobe at shooting guard, and his plan almost sounded plausible. He pointed out how the need to peg a guy as a 2 or a 3 or a 1 can be myopic. Skill sets, he says, are more important. I agree. The Lakers are short the aforementioned.

So if they aren't interested in Actual Gilbert, Conceptual Gilbert should be a priority, wherever he might be found.

Even when the Lakers were playing well and a title felt possible, "Dwight Howard to L.A.?" was a common talking point among media and fans. So you can only imagine the traction this topic has gained since the Lakers were unceremoniously bounced by the Dallas Mavericks one round later than the Orlando Magic were eliminated. The din has grown so loud, Howard recently tweeted complaints about the Orlando Sentinel trying to "push him out of" town. (Sentinel writer Mike Bianchi acknowledged the paper's speculation about Howard's future, but correctly noted how several outlets, including ESPN, have also busted out Tarot cards.) Like it or not, the big lug has officially reached "water cooler" status.

With that in mind, here's a look at some of the commonly asked questions regarding a potential acquisition of Howard by the Lakers.

Conceptually, is Dwight Howard a good addition?
Well, let's see. He's the best big man in the NBA. He's the Defensive Player of the Year three seasons running. He placed only behind Derrick Rose in this year's MVP voting. He's coming off a postseason averaging 27 points on 63 percent shooting while essentially getting quintuple-teamed, plus 15.5 rebounds for good measure. He's only 25. And his body is every bit as indestructible as it looks. Of the seven games missed in seven seasons, two were due to a stomach virus and two were due to suspensions.

If you haven't guessed by now, that question was more rhetorical to create a headline than asked in earnest.

Obviously, Dwight isn't perfect. He shoots free throws like Orlando's last iconic center, is turnover-prone, and picks up T's like they're drinks at an open bar. But focusing on these traits is the equivalent of pointing out an angle where Gisele Bundchen merely looks like a model, rather than a supermodel. Even acknowledging Howard doesn't solve every issue (outside shooting, point guard, perimeter speed), his presence helps mask weaknesses. On paper, there's no reason the Lakers wouldn't want Dwight Howard.

So just get Superman, no questions asked?
Slow down. Nothing is ever that simple.

If the Magic are willing to move Howard, they'll want the maximum return possible, either in talent or cap flexibility. I'd hesitate to surrender too many useful Lakers. Depth is an important commodity. Maybe Miami winning it all this June can sway me on the potential of an exceptionally top-heavy team, but I don't think gutting the Lakers of its talent beyond Kobe Bryant for Howard gains much ground. Conversely, I imagine the Magic will try to pawn off some bad contracts, which could be a deal breaker. For example, unless a time machine set to "2007" is part of the package, there's no way the Lakers should consider absorbing Gilbert Arenas and the $62 million remaining on his deal. At $10-12 mil yearly, Hedo Turkoglu isn't as dicey, but still fairly undesirable unless the Lakers also get to trim some fat. A deeper descent into cap hell isn't worth it for a team already pretty good.

Otherwise, my biggest concern would be Kobe's willingness to sacrifice some of his offense for Howard. During his exit interview, I asked Kobe about the feasibility of expanding Andrew Bynum's offensive role to match recently expressed wishes. Bryant's response wasn't terribly ambiguous:

"It's tough to do on this team. Ultimately, he'll have to fall in line. I'm gonna shoot the ball. We all know that. Pau's gonna get his touches, so he's number two in command. Drew's gonna have to fall in line with that."

Regardless of whether you endorse Kobe's pecking order mentality, it's application is one thing with Bynum and quite another with Howard. I'd like to think he'd also recognize this difference and adjust accordingly. But if Kobe truly believes in a pie sliced just so, obtaining Dwight is arguably pointless. You're not getting the maximum return on your investment and practically begging for a situation where stars clash. Better to look elsewhere for improvements.

(Read full post)