Lakers News, Rumors 2014: Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Ellington

Lakers News, Rumors 2014: Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Ellington
Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) talks with referee Marc Davis (8) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. The Lakers won 100-94. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Zachary Stieber
12/17/2014
Updated:
12/17/2014

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for their next game as the news and rumors ramp up.

Check out the latest buzz below.

Lin, Boozer Respond Differently to Demotions

Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer were recently replaced in the Lakers starting lineup, but they’ve responded differently to the demotions.

Lin requested a meeting with coach Byron Scott and called it “one of the toughest situations I’ve been in.

Boozer went to general manager Mitch Kupchak and also expressed anger over the move.

But it’s their on-court play that has differed the most, with Boozer greatly improving. He’s averaging 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds after getting benched, and shooting 54.2 percent from the field.

“That’s exactly how you want him to respond,” Scott said. “After a game or so, it seemed like he just said, ‘OK, this is how it’s going to be. I’m going to roll with it.’”

Lin has slumped badly, averaging six points and 4.6 assists while shooting only 28.6 percent. That included an 0-6 night in the recent loss to the Indiana Pacers.

I don’t know. He’s just been up and down,” Scott told the Los Angeles Times. “Sometimes he has nights like this.”

The Times notes that Lin, who was portrayed as a possible player to build around for the Lakers, “feels more and more like a one-year rental.” His contract expires after this season. 

On the other hand, the Lakers could swing a deal for a point guard because Lin’s replacement Ronnie Price isn’t doing much better, averaging just 2.4 points and 2.8 assists since becoming the starter.

Players Could be Dealt

Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young (0) celebrates after hitting the winning shot against the San Antonio Spurs during overtime of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, in San Antonio. Los Angeles won 112-110. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young (0) celebrates after hitting the winning shot against the San Antonio Spurs during overtime of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, in San Antonio. Los Angeles won 112-110. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

 

December 15 was the first day that some Lakers could be traded. The date marked the first day players who signed contracts over the summer could be moved.

For the Lakers, that includes Nick Young, Ed Davis, Wesley Johnson, Ryan Kelly, and Xavier Henry.

Wayne Ellington and Price are eligible to be traded next week.

Jordan Hill can’t be traded until January 15.

The team can’t deal Boozer, because he was acquired via amnesty waivers. Kobe Bryant can also not be dealt.

Lin, Robert Sacre, and Steve Nash have been eligible for trades the whole season.

“Nash has a 15% trade bonus in his contract, which applies only to the remainder of his contract for the season. If he were traded at the exact midway point of the season, the bonus would be based on half of his $9.7-million salary, or $727,575. Because Hill, Henry and Johnson re-signed on one-year deals, they can block any trade the Lakers might choose to make,” the Times noted.

“The Lakers can technically get around Hill’s veto power by opting him in to the second season of his contract, also at $9 million. The Lakers also have two disabled player exceptions, which can be used to acquire players in the final year of their contracts, one for Nash ($4.9 million) and Randle ($1.5 million). Nash is out with back issues while Randle broke his leg in the first game of the season.”

Ellington Stepping Up

Wayne Ellington #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball upcourt during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on December 9, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
Wayne Ellington #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball upcourt during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on December 9, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)

 

In Ellington’s case, the Lakers may have found a good role player who can be useful in the longer-term.

The Lakers are essentially auditioning most of their players for future years, apart from a few like Young.

Bleacher Report notes that Ellington is a valued player in Scott’s Princeton offense, coming off screens well and sinking spot-up three-pointers.

Ellington is averaging 6.4 points a game in about 17 minutes of action. 

Ellington actually played for Scott in the 2012-13 season while Scott was coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Scott has praised his play this season.

“The former collegiate star will never be known as a volume scorer in the NBA, but he still has a pure outside stroke,” Bleacher noted.

“That doesn’t mean Ellington’s judicious finesse game always pays off. He can be streaky—shooting 1-of-11 over a three-game stretch, before making 3-of-5 in a loss to the Indiana Pacers Monday night. But despite the occasional drought, Ellington’s overall numbers lend credence to his efficiency. He’s averaging 47 percent from the field this season with a solid 37 percent from beyond the arc. Additionally, his turnover rate is the lowest of any active player on the roster.”

Durant Would Play with Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) talks during a foul shot in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Oklahoma City won 122-105. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) talks during a foul shot in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Oklahoma City won 122-105. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

 

Put Kevin Durant on the list of players who would like to play with Kobe Bryant.

Durant, asked about Kobe’s recent passing of Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, praised Kobe for his achievement while refuting the rumor that players around the league don’t want to play with him.

“I want to play with a winner every single night, especially somebody who wants to win that bad, who works that hard, who demands a lot, who raises up your level,” he told USA Today.

“I'd want to play with a guy like that every day. ... (His style) may make people uncomfortable, how he acts and just how he approaches the game, but I love that type of stuff. I think (the accusation) is BS.”

Durant also said he appreciates Bryant’s skill and hard work.

“Just his work ethic, just his demeanor man,” Durant said when asked what he admired about Bryant.

“He doesn’t mind being an (expletive), and he comes to work man. He’s intense. He demands a lot out of his teammates, and I’ve seen that just playing alongside him in the Olympics (in 2012). He demands a lot out of everybody. He makes them better. Everybody out on the court. You’ve got to respect that. As a player, I study guys like that. We might not have the same personality, but I think we approach the game the same way and I’ve learned a lot from just watching him.”

Kupchak Denies Tanking Talk

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak looks on, as Byron Scott addresses the media during a press conference to introduce Scott as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Sports Center on July 29, 2014 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak looks on, as Byron Scott addresses the media during a press conference to introduce Scott as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Sports Center on July 29, 2014 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

 

GM Kupchak denied any discussion of tanking, sparked in part by recent comments by Magic Johnson.

The Lakers do have incentive to win as few games as possible, because the first-round pick in next year’s draft will go to the Phoenix Suns unless its in the top 5, as part of the Steve Nash deal.

But Kupchak says that players and staff have been instructed to win as much as possible.

“It’s beyond our control. There’s nothing we can do. There’s nothing that we will do to try and influence where we are at the end of the season,” he told Colin Coherd on The Herd.

“Our coach and our players have been instructed to win as many games possible.”

Johnson said recently that he hopes the Lakers lose every game.

“If you’re going to lose, you have to lose, because you can’t be in the middle of the pack. You either have to be great or you have to be bad, to get a good [draft] pick,” he told Newsday. “When you have franchises that mean a lot to the league like the Knicks, the Lakers and the Celtics we don’t take too kindly to losing and change, but that’s what we’re going through now.”