Lakers News: Latest on Free-Agent Workouts, Nick Young and More
The Los Angeles Lakers' two-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt Friday when the Dallas Mavericks dropped 140 points on Kobe Bryant and Co. Things continued to decline Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, as several of the team's key players had trouble finding any kind of offensive rhythm.
Needless to say, plenty of news has surfaced surrounding this struggling Lakers team that is still searching for an identity and consistency. In the wake of these recent losses, members of the team have sounded off, and the search for capable roster additions continues.
Here's a look at the recent buzz involving the Lakers organization as it attempts to right the ship.
Latest on Free-Agent Workouts
Due to season-ending injuries to guard Steve Nash and rookie power forward Julius Randle, the Lakers began a long search to find suitable replacements. Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders tweeted the four players who were given workouts:
Those workouts came and went, and nothing new has surfaced from the team since. This comes as a surprise considering Los Angeles could use an additional guard who is able to create shots for players like Bryant and Nick Young. Gal Mekel obviously stands out in this regard.
According to David Pick of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers don't appear to be in any kind of hurry to sign any free agents:
The team must certainly do its due diligence before making any kind of a decision; however, with the limited options and the team slumping, its easy to speculate adding a helpful role player would be a priority. Apparently, that's not the case here.
Nick Young Comments
Young had a rough outing Sunday against Denver, shooting just 2-of-12 from the floor, finishing with seven points, three rebounds and one assist in 28 minutes. After his five-point outing against Dallas, he's officially in a two-game slump.
After the forward's most recent performance, he commented on why he hasn't been playing up to his usual standards, via Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation:
When Young first returned to action, it appeared he brought his rhythm with him. He put up 17 points against the Atlanta Hawks and followed up that performance with a 16-point showing against the Houston Rockets in the next game. However, there's more to the story, via Ward:
Apparently, Young is still hindered by the aftereffects of the surgery to the thumb on his shooting hand. This was to be expected upon his return, but after two great outings right out of the gate, it was almost easy to forget he was injured in the first place.
Patience will be a virtue here, and Young will return to his former self once he's fully healed.
Byron Scott Comments
Head coach Byron Scott hasn't been pleased with his team after two straight losses. He hasn't been a stranger to publicly sharing his feelings, and he's done exactly that following both defeats.
After the team gave up 140 points to Dallas, Scott criticized his players' efforts on the defensive end of the court during a press conference, via Janis Carr of the Orange County Register:
"It does feel like I'm talking to myself when it comes to the defensive end of the floor and trying to stress how important it is to our guys each and every night. Because there are nights, like Atlanta and Houston, where we do it, but then there are other nights like Dallas when we just don't. …
It (porous defense) doesn't set well with me at all. I didn't take it out on them this morning, but I let them know that it doesn't set well with me. The one thing we are looking for at that end of the floor is consistency.
"
Following the loss to Denver, Scott spoke of missed opportunities, via Mike Trudell of Lakers.com:
While what Scott says is true, 100 percent of the blame can't be directed at his players. This is a newly rebuilt team that appears to have difficulty jelling. If the current schemes aren't working, perhaps it's time to rethink things.
Bryant is 36 years of age, and he just played a total of 44 minutes Sunday against Denver. He isn't known for his ability on the defensive end of the court, and he's taking too many low-percentage shots due to the lack of a capable facilitator.
Bringing in the right personnel (Mekel, anyone?) can have a positive effect on the team's shot creation, and giving rookie Jordan Clarkson more minutes on the court could see an increase in efficiency on the defensive end. At 3-11, isn't a little experimenting in order? The ball is in Scott's court.
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