Showing posts with label Vander Blue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vander Blue. Show all posts

Friday, February 19, 2016

NBA CALL UPS: Should the LAKERS call upon the D-Fenders?

Jimmer Fredette will be signed to at least one 10-day Contract by his mother team, the New York Knicks, on Monday.




CONGRATS!

Callups happen a lot and the Lakers have certainly utilized their D-League squad, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, as a source for talent.
There is AT LEAST 7 Players on the Current D-Fenders Roster that SHOULD be in the Show
This season, however, the D-Fenders have been used as more of a "training program" for players like Ryan Kelly, Tarik Black and Anthony Brown to get some run and reps as compared to sitting on the bench with the Varsity brethren.

 Jordan Clarkson, last season, spent ample time playing with the D-Fenders before he ultimately solidified himself as a Lakers starter, especially with the team's injury woes.

 What about the other D-Fenders?  Unless a player has a contract with a team, like Anthony Brown does with the Lakers, they are all free agents.  So, just because a player is on the "D-Fenders" does not mean that player may ONLY play for the Lakers.

 The Lakers called up Dwight Buycks last season from the Oklahoma City Blue (D-League team of OKC Thunder) AHEAD of their BLUE, Vander Blue.

 Buycks went down with a foot injury and Vander was called up for the last two games of the season.  Vander ended up receiving an offer from the Lakers but somehow managed to show up in BULLS' gear during NBA SUMMER to then have NO DEAL.  He has been playing this season with the D-Fenders and is an aggressive player going to the rim or around the perimeter and generally fills up a stat sheet:
25.6 ppg (2nd), 5.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.0 spg

Robert Upshaw:  Upshaw hit the scene in Vegas with quite the buzz amongst the record-breaking fans that were ALREADY buzzing due to the shiny new toys of the Lakers: Russell, Nance, Randle (back healthy)...But, Upshaw was waived by the Lakers and has struggled to see the floor.  A lot of that has to do with the PT of Lakers like Black and Kelly when they have been assigned.  

 Upshaw did not look healthy recently and apparently came off two weeks of some viral infection (this had NOT been confirmed by anyone but "reported" by many on the so-called "inside").  He is getting healthier and stronger but he was looking way to "rail thin" to be attempting to ball with the big boys in the NBA right NOW.

 *UPDATE (3-9-16) Saw Upshaw Saturday night vs. Texas Legends (3/6/16).  He looked good.  Upshaw has a nice touch on his shot and 4-8 for 8 pts in 10 minutes.

 Josh Magette:  No, not the long lost "brother from another mother" to former Duke and LA Clippers Star, Corey Magette (rhymes with Spaghetti).  Josh, not YOUR JET, but "Ma-JET" who played for the D-Fenders in 2013-2014 came back to the team this season after playing overseas 1 year.  

 Magette HAD been leading the League in steals with 2.5 but stands one tenth behind the current leader who has played in 11 fewer games.

 He puts in 10 points, 4.6 boards and leads the league in ASSISTS at 8.6.  Magette is a great floor general that sacrifices his body and self for the team.

 How about a name more unfamiliar?

 This is the Fourth Season as A D-Fender and 8th in the D, for Andre Ingram...

 Known as a solid, lock-down defensive player, Dre became the NBA D-League's ALL-TIME leader in 3 point baskets made in the NBA D-league. 



 He is right at 50% LEADING THE LEAGUE in three point shooting on 2.32 (makes) of 4.65 (attempts).  

He will get you a couple-a boards and assists, 8 or 10 points and a steal each game.


this happened as well..


Ingram went against newest, ahem, NBA CAll-UP Jimmer Fredette in the NBA D-League 3 point contest... and WON!!!

 Fredette will be with the Knicks next Monday and will presumably ride out the remainder of the season, because, "why not?"

 IN many ways Ingram might "deserve" this opportunity more than most perhaps in the League.  He is a veteran.  He has respect.  Ask his teammates.

  IF these LAKERS REALLY want to go "Twenty and Seven" down-the-stretch, as Metta WORLD PEACE SAID on Thursday,  they could use any ONE of these guys.

 BUT, with Ingram I add veteran stability and leadership that will ONLY benefit the younger players.

 He can personally mentor young Anthony Brown on being a defensive stopper.

 And he ONLY helps your team.  Andre Ingram is the type of player that will never hurt you.  Mistakes do happen, but Ingram makes it up right away.  If you want DEFENSE?  Intensity? And, the guy who just beat out JIMMER FREDETTE in the three point contest then please call HQ in El Segundo,



muchas gracias !





Congratulations to Andre Ingram


Other notables: Ryan Gomes has been nothing but a solid pro and Justin Harper has been playing really good ball as well for LA.

 UPDATE* (3/9/16): Glad I mentioned Harper.  I regret not saying THIS which applies to Gomes and Jeff Ayres (new D-Fenders' acquisition):

 Solid player.  Won't hurt you.  An absolute pro.

 Jeff Ayres was acquired on Thursday (3/4/16) and put up 16 points and 10 rebounds in his debut with LA.

 BTW...he's Baaaaaack...

 Jabari Brown played in his SECOND game with the D-Fenders on Saturday (3/6/16).  He had a bit of an "off" shooting night putting in 15 pts
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Monday, July 6, 2015

Gold Rush: Lakers Youth Movement

     One thing the Lakers have struggled with the last couple of years besides wins is "assets:"  A player with value that can bring other value in via trade.  A rookie with promise and talent.


These Three picks add to a very talented young Lakers Corps
Don't look now but with three picks in this year's draft the Lakers have stockpiled plenty of youth.  The Baby Lakers are a comin..

     Fortunate or unfortunate Jordan Clarkson emerged and was arguably their best player down the stretch landing him on the First Team All-Rookie Team with 11.9 pts and 3.5 Assists.  In paying roughly $3M for pick number 46 in the 2014 draft there was NO WAY the Lakers were NOT going to play Clarkson.  They just probably could not predict that he would be their starter at the end of the season.

 As far as starters THIS season?

 Who knows.  We DO know Kobe is back but this is a "player" that has logged 41 games the past two seasons combined.

 It seems pretty clear that the plan is to focus on this re-build through the draft:

 Julius Randle (7) and Jordan Clarkson (46) 2014 Draft: JC, obvi, created value with his stellar play and attitude.   Meanwhile, Randle's value resides, still, with his play at Kentucky and projected promise since he unfortunately went down in game one of the 2014-15 season and never returned.

  "It is heartbreaking, because I saw him all summer," coach Byron Scott said. "I saw the work that he was putting in. I saw the progression that he was making, the steps that he was taking to get better. And his first game, he goes down. I don't think anybody in that locker room is happy about the way we played, but we're even more saddened about the fact that we lost one of our young guys."

 It WAS heart-breaking.  It was sad to see the highest Lakers' Lottery pick since James Worthy, J Dub 42, go down before his first NBA game ended.  

 Perhaps Laker Fans should take a page from S.A.G and just SAY IT,




Maybe NOT, BUT We need something to reverse-this-curse.. riiight?

 Riddled with injuries, Free-Agent deals gone wrong in a BIG DH12 kinda WAY, Nashty's "Neck," Kobe's, well.. Kobe...

 (sigh)

 A reflective moment for season's past.   #LakerLore reigns supreme, "Sir" Charles.  This is something you WILL never understand.  I realize it must be tough for you..to stay away from the Hometown Buffet..

 to pray and pray ev-er-y day
that you could PLAY
for the Lakers back-in-the-day

 hey,

 Oh...

 But, you didn't Chuckles.  You NEVER got a ring.  One of the "top ten players to NEVER win an NBA Championship."  

 So, STOP.

 STOP hating on the Lakers.
Lakers WIN Championships. 

 Barkley does NOT.

Tarik Black and Jabari Brown were both undrafted rookies in 2014 that landed on the D-Fenders before signing with the Lakers

 Vander Blue is an undrafted rookie (2013) that found himself beginning the D-League season on the D-Fenders and ending the season with the Lakers, like Jabari, after Dwight Buycks got injured.  He currently has a qualifying offer in front of him at roughly $1.2M

 Dwight Buycks (Bikes) is back for the Lakers Summer League squad, challenging for a spot amidst a very competitive corps of players of the same ilk.  A talented player like Brown, Black & Blue.  Yep.

 Larry Nance Jr. although probably more known for his now-famous " tweet " to his pal Kobe is a nice player the Lakers CLEARLY like from Wyoming.  Oh yeah, it's Dr. Jerry Buss' alma mater. Go Cowboys!The Lakers jumped well ahead and "off-board" to draft Nance Jr.  This will be a pick that haters (Barkley), especially of Mitch or Jim, will scrutinize.  Other players with arguably more talent were available there but Lakers Brass be showin dem Balls and went with a high-flying player in "junior" who can defend well.  Some say that with this player the Lakers say bye to R Kelly.  I say "goodbye Wes Johnson."  Both will probably be going for different reasons.

Anthony Brown slipped a bit to the Lakers at 34 and no doubt they were stoked to get him there.  The Lakers get two very athletic, talented players that can shoot and defend multiple positions in Nance Jr. and Brown.

Robert Upshaw went undrafted.  Dude had some heart-thing that popped up going into the NBA Combine .  He has also had some issue with attitude and "other" alleged violations of team rules but has since committed to getting back on track.  If this IS the case and the Lakers sign this 7-footer he becomes another fly-swatting Big like Hibbert that can hold down the paint and start the break especially with his skill at controlling the blocks.


and,

DLoading...

"with the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select..D'Angelo Russell..."


A bit of a surprise perhaps but not shocking.  What's funny is hearing that the Lakers selected the guard over the big because "Today's NBA is changing."

Ummmm, yeah, so no other team needed a point guard in "yester-year's" game of round ball?  C'mon.  Grow up.

No.

I think it is a bit of a chance.  With Okafor you are getting a talented Big that will come in and have some dominating games.  How do his wheels hold up over 82 though?

The Lakers NEEDS were not limited.  They needed a Big and a Point and, well, everything else too.

So, why not go with the flashy-passer from THEe Ohio State University?

One thing is for sure.  The Lakers got younger.




Building through the draft and creating asset value

Baby Lakers

Baby Lake Show ?






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