How the L.A. Lakers Players Are Spending Time During the NBA Lockout

The dog days of summer are given new meaning this time around, as the end to the NBA lockout appears nowhere in sight.

The prospects for a never-ending offseason become ever more real by the day.

So how are the Los Angeles Lakers—a team of superstars, celebrities and plain old misfits—keeping busy in this offseason for the ages?

We've got you covered. Let's take a look at how the Laker players are spending their time during the NBA lockout.

Steve Blake

Steve Blake is approaching this offseason with the right mentality—using the time to fix a part of his game that many considered broken as of last year.

His jump shot.

Blake has been in the gym this summer trying to add more arch to his shooting stroke.  Said Blake of his offseason work:

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"I'm trying to shoot the ball a little higher and see if that will improve my jump shot. I didn't shoot the ball horribly this year, but I didn't shoot it as well as I wanted to."

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Steve's probably been reminded by Laker fans everywhere he goes that he did not live up to expectations last year but the 8 year veteran is certainly taking the right steps to remedy these first year woes.

Quite commendable of Blake and very indicative of his work ethic.

Matt Barnes

Like Steve Blake, Matt Barnes is working hard this offseason to recapture what was lost during last season.

Barnes has been given an extended rehabilitation period this summer to come back from a right knee tear that sidelined him for 26 games last season and visibly affected his play when he eventually did return to the court.

Barnes has been playing 5-on-5 scrimmages at Loyola Marymount University and will be participating in the San Francisco "Dream Team" Pro Am league beginning this Thursday—a league he has played in for the last four years.

Said Barnes of his uncharacteristic play coming back from injury last season:

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"I watched game film toward the end of the season and the playoffs... Seeing that, it disgusted me knowing I couldn't do anything and move like I normally could. It really hurt me so that's really been my driving force this summer to get better and come back along with the rest of the team to make a statement."

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Lakers fans should be glad to see the newest additions to the Lakers squad—Barnes and Blake—working hard to provide a significantly better effort during their sophomore campaigns next season.

Luke Walton

Luke Walton has laid low this offseason and has not made any news for basketball-related reasons—which basically sums up his play last season.

Luke did participate at the Marco Nunez Basketball Camp at Don Bosco Technical Institute last week where he—try not to laugh—"gave an inspiring discussion on basketball, education and motivated players in the basketball camp."

In past summers, Luke has teamed up with Richard Jefferson to put on a basketball camp of their own, but the two former Arizona Wildcats discontinued their camp this year.

Lamar Odom

Like most summers and most players, Lamar Odom has been working out in an effort to stay fresh and ready for the upcoming season.

But Lamar is not your typical player. Nor does Lamar have your typical lifestyle.

As expected, Lamar has been engaging in a slew of other activities to pass the time. Lamar and wife Khloe Kardashian relaunched their unisex fragrance, Unbreakable, getting the fragrance into more stores across the United States.

The NBA's Sixth Man of the Year is also nominated for a Teen Choice Award this year as "Best Male Variety Star" for his involvement in the E! reality show "Khloe and Lamar." The awards show airs this Sunday August 7 on FOX.

And Lamar has been welcoming his new brother-in-law Kris Humphries into the Kardashian mob, hosting the couple's engagement party at his house and partying it up with the crew at Humphries' bachelor party in Las Vegas.

Never a dull moment when you're Lamar Odom—even in the offseason.

Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum has been making headlines for the wrong reasons this summer.

After doing some traveling once the season ended, Bynum returned to Los Angeles and began cross-training under legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach—best known for his work with Manny Pacquiao.

Bynum was even seen hanging with boxing's latest superstar Amir "King" Kahn, who recently knocked out Zab Judah to win the IBA and WBA super welterweight belts on July 23.

And then Bynum forget to tip the valet—or something like that.

Double parking his BMW in a handicapped spot at grocery store, Bynum was blown up all over the media and (rightfully) chastised for his behavior.

Bynum turned this latest episode into a positive, tweeting:

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"There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from."

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Sage words from the 23-year-old. Some lessons Bynum could benefit from can most likely be found in the DMV Driver's Handbook.

Ron Artest

Professional stand-up comedian and part-time basketball player Ron Artest has certainly been busy during the NBA lockout. I'd hardly call it an offseason—he's actually working full time with all the projects he's involved in.

He changed his name on NBA Draft night to "Metta World Peace."

He finished filming his reality show "Last Second Shot" in which the Lakers star and a group of mental health experts mentor parolees. 

He created and headlined the "Ron Artest Ultimate Comedy Tour," visiting cities across the United States to perform stand-up comedy with a group of professional comics

He began talks to join the cast next season on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

What's next for the Lakers small forward?

Maybe a trip to the gym with pal Steve Blake to—you know—work on that three-point shot of yours. Knowing Ron, he'll probably show up with a film crew to the gym.

World Peace is oh-so Hollywood these days.

Pau Gasol

The seven-foot Spaniard and hook shot extraordinaire has had a very productive offseason this year.

First, Pau got some serious rest after a mentally and physically taxing playoffs, vacationing with his girlfriend off the coast of Ibiza and hanging with his buddy, tennis champ Rafael Nadal.

Pau then got back to work—starting a cross-training program that involves weight lifting, swimming and even tennis.

In mid-July, Pau hosted the sixth annual Pau Gasol Academy, a basketball camp for hundreds of Spanish youth in Alicante, Spain.

Pau is now currently training with the Spanish national team in preparation for the 2011 FIBA European Basketball Championships, or "Eurobasket," which kicks off at the end of August. Pau will be competing against a variety of NBA superstars playing for their countries, including Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Andreas Bargnani.

With the NBA lockout in full effect, the European Championships are going to be as close as we get to real NBA action. Set your TiVos, basketball fans.

Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher has been spending more time in a business suit than in a basketball jersey this offseason.

As head of the NBA Players Association, Fisher has been working with executive director Billy Hunter in an effort to bring the NBA, owners and players to a new deal after the collective bargaining agreement expired on June 30.

No such luck.

This week, the NBA filed a lawsuit against the players association for unfair labor practices, a legal action meant to pre-empt any moves the union might make, such as decertification.  

This legal tango is just getting started. Both sides admit that they are very, very far apart on a new deal.

Derek is sure to have a nice career as a lawyer once he hangs up the sneakers for good.

Kobe Bryant

World traveler Kobe Bryant has been racking up some serious frequent flyer miles this summer.

Kobe kicked off his summer by flying to Germany to have platelet-rich plasma therapy performed on his knee.

Kobe then toured Asia, hosting basketball camps in Korea, traveling in and around China and playing exhibition games in the Philippines with fellow NBA players Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant and Derek Fisher.

Upon his return, Kobe stopped by FedEx Field to watch Manchester United beat Barcelona in an exhibition match and played soccer on his own in a celebrity charity soccer match in Washington D.C—making a splash by scoring an own goal.

Kobe also found time to host his basketball camp, the Kobe Bryant Academy, in Santa Barbara, California this year.

All told, the future Hall of Famer has had quite a busy offseason. If the NBA doesn't open its doors soon, we might find Kobe playing internationally in Turkey, China or any other country with enough cash to land the superstar.  

As Kobe said this weekend,

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"I’m just waiting for my phone to ring...I’d play anywhere"

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Pressure's on, Fish—the NBA season can't come soon enough.