LAS VEGAS – NBA business has moved at a frenetic pace since the free agent negotiating window opened, with executives and agents making and receiving a barrage of calls and text messages at any hour of the day.
Despite all the activity of the first week, however, the Lakers have yet to make a move. Though things remain fluid, the Lakers do not sense any imminent deals, according to league sources familiar with the situation. As of Friday evening, the Lakers also did not have any meetings scheduled with any free agents.
The Lakers have insisted on remaining patient while they evaluate their options, which include recently waived guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, veteran guard Rajon Rondo, veteran guard Rodney Stuckey and 22-year-old guard Tyler Ennis, according to league sources. The Lakers also pursued Boston guard Avery Bradley before the Celtics ultimately traded him to Detroit to help clear salary cap space.
The Lakers have held firm on their refusal to sign players to multi-year deals so they can preserve cap space for next summer when elite players such as LeBron James, Paul George and Russell Westbrook can become free agents. The Lakers met this week with veteran guard George Hill and shooting guard Dion Waiters, but both signed more lucrative, long-term deals elsewhere.
A SURPRISE RETURN
During a break in play on Friday, the scoreboard showed a replay of former Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell making a game-winning 3-pointer in one of last year’s Summer League games.
The highlight, which showed Russell’s long-term potential, was also a reminder of how things have changed in recent weeks. The Lakers traded Russell to Brooklyn last month as part of a pre-draft deal that helped them shed Timofey Mozgov’s three-year, $48 million contract, acquire a center (Brook Lopez) and another first-round draft pick (No. 27).
Moments after the video played, Russell arrived at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Nets’ summer league team was playing against Atlanta at nearby Cox Pavilion, and Russell was able to catch up with former Lakers teammate Larry Nance Jr. and Corey Brewer.
“We’re great friends. Nothing changes. I still love to see him,” Nance said. “I’m sure we’ll still be hanging out in the summer time. We’ll still be friends except when we’re playing each other. I want him to be an All-Star. I want him to be an MVP; just not against us.”
Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson had questioned Russell’s leadership credentials, and some in the organization had issues with Russell’s maturity and work habits, but Brewer said Russell “is a good guy.”
“D-Lo is working his (butt) off,” Brewer said. “Say what you want, we traded him. But he was my teammate. I think he’s going to do great in Brooklyn.”
A HELPING HAND
Brewer will host a basketball clinic on Saturday at West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster for 100 foster children serviced by the city’s Department of Children and Family Services.
“No matter what your situation is, you can always have a better situation,” said Brewer, who also hosted a clinic last year. “Work hard, do the right thing and go to school. You can be anything you want to be.”
