Lakers: Larry Turner Signed
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The Los Angeles Lakers picked up free agent Larry Turner on Wednesday. Turner is a 24-year old 6'11" center from Tennessee State. He played on the Laker Summer League squad in Las Vegas, averaging 7.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
In all likelihood, Turner is a camp invite with a make-good contract. With the roster essentially set (assuming no major trade emerges - and Kobe Bryant reports to training camp), Turner will have a difficult time making the regular season roster.
At this late August date, the Laker depth chart looks to be the following:
PG Derek Fisher/Jordan Farmar/Javaris Crittenton
SG Kobe Bryant/Mo Evans/Sasha Vujacic/Coby Karl
SF Luke Walton/Vladimir Radmanovic
PF Lamar Odom/Ronny Turiaf/Brian Cook
C Andrew Bynum/Kwame Brown/Chris Mihm/Larry Turner
That's 16 players for 15 roster spots. Unfortunately for Turner, he's the most likely to be the one cut.
Of course every player has their opportunity in camp. Quality of play could cause the Los Angeles Lakers to rethink the depth chart and possibly look to open up a roster spot.
While fans may still hold out hope that the roster will be upgraded more substantially this offseason, the odds are the Los Angeles Lakers invite two to four more players to camp and roll with what they have.
KEY NEWSLINES
Los Angeles Times: "Off the floor, there was never a question with Kobe making his first public appearance after last spring's media blitz in which he demanded that the Los Angeles Lakers trade him. Well, most days, anyway. Understanding the sensibilities of USA Basketball and Nike, which sponsors the U.S. team as well as Kobe Bryant, Kobe has been low-key, trying to defuse the issue. . . while pointedly refusing to take anything back or rule out a holdout. Just to cut to the chase, here's how he feels. He still wants out. He finally figured out the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn't move him, no matter what he said, and settled down . . . only to watch in anguish as his beloved Kevin Garnett went to Boston. If the Celtics could land KG with nobody, why couldn't the Los Angeles Lakers? More reports of Kobe Bryant's dismay went out through the usual channels but Kobe, himself, seems to be settling down again
Chicago Tribune: "Kidd running the court and defending with Kobe Bryant is the dream backcourt Kobe Bryant envisioned when the Los Angeles Lakers talked trade with Kidd's Nets last February. The deal broke down when the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn't include young center Andrew Bynum. Kobe Bryant became upset and claimed he didn't even know Andrew Bynum was on the team. Kobe Bryant has talked about requesting a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers since the end of last season and talks favorably about playing with Kidd, meaning he could return to L.A. after this tournament pushing for such a trade again."
Los Angeles Times: "If the question is, will he play for the Lakers this season, the answer is almost surely yes. The real question is whether he'll make this issue go away, before or after training camp, so the Lakers can play this season without a sword dangling above them. If the day is coming when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers do part, his impact on the U.S. team is an excruciating reminder for Los Angeles Lakers fans of how many positive attributes he still brings along with his unrivaled game, the work ethic, the competitiveness, the elbows teammates have to watch out for in drills. In this ensemble of stars, where great care is taken not to build up anyone at the expense of anyone else, Kobe Bryant is indisputably the star of stars."
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