Lake Show News & Notes Archive

98-99 Season

Rumors...

More rumors have surrounded the Lakers than any other team in the NBA the past few months. The most recent rumors concern Glen Rice and Dennis Rodman. Currently, the most likely rumor concerns Dennis Rodman. Apparently the Worm is ready to jump back into the NBA with the Lakers. If the Lakers do sign Rodman, the most they could offer him would be the $1 million veteran minimum.
The other rumor concerns a trade involving a trade between the Lakers and Hornets. Supposedly the Lakers would send Elden Campbell and Eddie Jones to the Hornets for Glen Rice, JR Reid, and BJ Armstrong. I figure only one, if either, of these rumors will actually happen, and right now I'm guessing the Worm will be wearing the purple & gold within the next week.
In other news, Kobe Bryant has gotten off to a hot start. He has had a double-double in every one of the Lakers' five games so far. He is currently averaging 21.0 ppg and 10.4 rpg (both second on the team behind Shaquille O'Neal). He also leads the team in minutes and is second in steals. It doesn't look like Rick Fox will be getting his starting spot back any time soon...

[Rodman]
[Rice]
[Bryant]

(Offeseason)-Rumors begin Lakers offseason

The whispers began almost immediately after the Lakers' disappointing series against the Jazz. Will the Lakers sign Scottie Pippen after the season? Are the Lakers getting rid of Nick Van Exel? Will they get Phil Jackson or George Karl to coach? Will Rick Fox be back next year? Is Jerry West leaving for the Clippers, and will Shaq and Kobe be following him soon? So far, only a few answers have been given.
Jerry West looks to be coming back next year as the team's executive VP of basketball operations. West is expected to retire after his contract expires next season.
Del Harris' job appears safe for next year, as long as the Lakers get off to a good start. If the team struggles, look for assistant coach Kurt Rambis to possibly take over.
Nick Van Exel has seen his last days in the purple and yellow. The Lakers shipped the All-Star point guard to the lowly Denver Nuggets. Van Exel is coming off a season where he led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and did a lot of growing up, allowing Derek Fisher to stay in the starting lineup after Nick returned from an injury. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your opinion), the Lakers felt they had to move him anyway, and picked up forward Tony Battie and rookie point man Tyronn Lue (whom I went to school with). For more on Lue, check out My Opinion.
The summer's only just beginning, so there is a lot of time for the Lakers to find answers to all the questions.

[Harris]
[Van Exel]



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