Lakers reach out to Devin Ebanks about re-signing him - Los Angeles Times

More specifics will be ironed out in days to come, but the Lakers reached out to Devin Ebanks' representive to express interest in re-signing the small forward. Ebanks' agent, David Bauman, told The Times on Saturday night that General Manager Mitch Kupchak reached out to him via text message shortly after 9 p.m., which marked the beginning of free agency. Bauman said Kupchak reiterated the same sentiments in a follow-up phone conversation.

"Mitch and I had a really good talk. Mitch told me how much the Lakers want Devin to return," Bauman said. "We agree we'll probably talk on Monday."

Meanwhile, Ebanks plans to arrive in Los Angeles sometime on Sunday and work out at the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo on Monday.

In recent weeks, Bauman has sent what he called a "Matrix" to a number of unspecified teams around the league, including the Lakers, outlining various statistics he believes illustrates how Ebanks contributed when given the chance to play. Bauman said a few unspecified teams reached out to him about signing Ebanks to a mult-year deal, but declined to name which ones.

"Unless it's really a crazy number," Bauman said, "Devin's preference will be to stay with the Lakers."

Ebanks averaged four points on 41.6% shooting from the field and 2.3 rebounds in 16.5 minutes in the regular season, but showed some growth signs during unexpected promotions. Ebanks started at shooting guard for seven games in April while Kobe Bryant sat out with a left shin injury, averaging 6.14 points on 48.71% shooting in 25.2 minutes a game. On April 22 against Oklahoma City, Ebanks suddenly entered the game after Metta World Peace earned an ejection for elbowing James Harden and Matt Barnes sprained his right ankle. Ebanks made two steals in the final minute of the second ovetime while holding Kevin Durant to five-of-19 shooting when he played the entire fourth quarter and subsequent overtimes. Ebanks also started at small forward during World Peace's seven-game suspension, scoring in double digits in three of those contests.

The Lakers have praised the lanky and athletic Ebanks for his work ethic, defense and unassuming personality in his second season with the Lakers. But his playing time came in spurts. He started four games to open the season only to disappear down the depth chart behind World Peace and Barnes. From Jan. 3 to April 6, Ebanks played a combined five minutes through 34 games. He even appeared in three games for the D-Fenders, the Lakers' Development League affiliate.

Still, the Lakers offered Ebanks a qualifying offer Friday worth about $1 million. Although he's free to sign with any team, the Lakers have the right to match any offer he receives. Bauman has tabbed signing Ebanks to a multi-year deal at either two or three years with the Lakers as his top priority.

The NBA has a so-called "Moratorium Period" from July 1-10 during which teams may hold negotiations but cannot sign contracts. Therefore, July 11 would mark the earliest date Ebanks could sign a deal with any team.

"He was demonstrating his respect to Devin more than anything," Bauman said of Kupchak, "by saying we want him and our intention is try to keep him."

RELATED:

Lakers among handful of teams to reach out to Jordan Hill's agent

Lakers extend qualifying offer to Devin Ebanks

Should Lakers trade Pau Gasol for Josh Smith? [Poll]

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com.

Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter.

Where Does Kobe Bryant Belong Among the All-Time NBA Greats? - Bleacher Report

Kobe Bryant has proven that his career isn't over just yet.

Nearly grabbing a scoring title against the now three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant was an impressive feat for the 33-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Although he has probably at least a couple years until he retires, Bryant has already been rightfully placed in the conversation with all-time greats.

But where does he fit in with the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson?

First of all, let's dispel the myth that he can even be compared to Michael Jordan. According to NBA.com, Magic Johnson said it himself, "There's Michael Jordan, and then there is the rest of us."

Per the same story, Larry Bird remarked after a playoff game that he had played against "God disguised as Michael Jordan."

These guys are top-10 players of all time, and here they are, saying that Jordan is on a different level than they were.

Bryant averages fewer points per game than Jordan and also has fewer MVPs, NBA championships, scoring titles and just about everything else.

Put simply, there is no comparison between 23 and 24.

Now, where does Kobe fit in among all-time Laker greats?

Magic Johnson was a five-time champion and is generally regarded as the greatest point guard of all time.

Where do you rank Kobe among the all-time greats?

Where do you rank Kobe among the all-time greats?

• 1

• 2

• 3-5

• Top 10

• Top 20

• Total votes: 7

At 6'9", Magic was one of the most well-rounded talents the NBA has ever seen. He averaged 19.5 points per game, 11.2 assists per game, and an astounding 7.2 rebounds per game.

The former Laker point guard also has more MVPs (3) and finals MVPs (3) than does Kobe.

Many may regard Kobe as a clutch performer, but this ESPN ranking gives the best playoff performance to Magic Johnson. (And Kobe isn't even in the top 10.)

In Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wasn't able to play due to injury, so Magic Johnsonâ€"a point guard, mind youâ€"played center.

His 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals led the way for the Lakers to beat the 76ers and legend Julius Erving.

And that was in his rookie year.

There are two more Laker legends ahead of Kobe: Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Shaq was the most dominant player of his generation. In the Lakers three-peat from 00-02, "The Diesel" won every single finals MVP award and even reigned in a regular-season MVP award in 2000.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is another big man who simply dominated the game, to the tune of six NBA championship titles, six MVP awards, 19 times an All-Star and of course the NBA's all-time scoring titles.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

There isn't much of an argument for Kobe against the legendary career of Kareem.

That makes Kobe the fourth-best player to play in Hollywood, and therefore not a top-five player in NBA history.

Considering the staggering achievements of Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Bill Russell, Kobe drops down at least a couple more spots. He and Tim Duncan are at similar spots among the NBA's greatest.

So is he in the top 10 of all time? Possibly.

But top five? Definitely not.

Read more of my basketball writing, including a Kobe-LeBron comparison on Bases and Baskets.com.

Will Lakers Trade Gasol to the Wolves?: Fan Reaction - Yahoo! Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers do not have a lot of options this summer. They picked up a couple of second-round picks and they extended offers to Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris. Unless they make a blockbuster trade, that may be the extent of their dealings. Obviously they will try to sign a point guard and hopefully bring back Ramon Sessions. However, they may need to settle for a cheap veteran that is willing to play for a small salary at the end of their career.

Rumors, rumors

The rumors continue to swirl around Pau Gasol, as various teams have been discussed as possible destinations. It is so hard for the fan base to know whether any of these stories are true, or if they simply stem from some executive giving a reporter a sound bite. If you ask a coach or a GM whether they would like a savvy and versatile big man on their team, of course they are going to say yes. Gasol certainly didn't have his best year last season, but he is still a valuable commodity.

Youth movement

Would the T-Wolves really send Derrick Williams to the Lakers for Pau Gasol? I guess that would surprise me. It seems like someone in that organization would step in and say, "Wait a minute, we're trading a 21-year-old high draft pick for an expensive 32-year-old guy that might have 3-4 more years left?" The young power forward did not have a dynamic year during his rookie season, but he is still only 21 years old and he has that elusive "upside" that so many teams crave. Plus, he is paired a bit awkwardly with Kevin Love, who is clearly the franchise. If you are the Lakers and Minnesota makes the offer, I think you do that deal in a heartbeat. You lose a lot of experience, but you add some much-needed youth.

Impact on Kobe

There might be one catch to doing a deal for Derrick Williams, assuming this is a real possibility. If you trade for Williams, you might lose some ground in order to build for the future. In other words, Williams and Bynum might be a really good front line in a couple of years as Derrick develops and Andrew hopefully takes more of a leadership role. However, how does that impact Kobe Bryant in the last couple of years on his contract? Will he tolerate a youth movement? Or will he expect the Lakers to keep trading away draft picks and young players in order to surround him with vets?

I will be very curious to see if this deal gets some traction.

Sources:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8113368/report-minnesota-timberwolves-made-run-want-pau-gasol

The author grew up in Seattle and now lives in Los Angeles, where he enjoys the rivalry between the Lakers and the Clippers, and all the drama that goes with being in the Southland. You can follow him on Twitter @tpheifer.

More from this contributor:

My First Trip to Yankee Stadium

Worst #1 NBA Draft Picks of All Time

The Best Baseball Catch I Ever Saw In Person

AP sources: Timberwolves making run at Pau Gasol - Boston.com

The people requested anonymity because the talks were meant to remain private. The deal never came together before the draft began, and the Bobcats stayed at No. 2 and took Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The Timberwolves are expected to continue their pursuit of Gasol in hopes of putting him with fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love on a revamped roster aimed at returning the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Wolves’ interest in Gasol has long been rumored, with the highly skilled big man considered an ideal fit for coach Rick Adelman’s corner offense, and the kind of playoff-tested veteran needed on one of the youngest rosters in the NBA. He’s close friends with Rubio, the Wolves’ superb young point guard who is recovering from a torn ACL and hopes to be ready early next season.

Gasol has teamed with Kobe Bryant to win two titles in Los Angeles, but always seemed to catch the brunt of the criticism when things went wrong.

That happened again this year when he averaged just 12.5 points along with 9.5 rebounds in the playoffs, and the Lakers were eliminated in the second round by the younger, quicker Oklahoma City Thunder. He often appeared to get lost in the shuffle while Bryant and Andrew Bynum got most of the touches on offense.

He was the subject of trade rumors all season, starting before it began when Commissioner David Stern, operating as owner of the New Orleans Hornets, nixed a deal that would have sent Gasol to Houston as part of a package for Chris Paul to the Lakers.

“It has been a crazy year and a lot to deal with. … Unfortunately, we had tough losses and things didn’t really go our way for the most part,’’ the four-time All-Star said at the end of the season. “You just have to regroup and digest this loss and this season, and learn from it and move on.’’

Gasol is due to make more than $38 million over the next two seasons, an enormous sum that the salary cap-strapped Lakers might have difficulty footing under the harsher luxury tax penalties scheduled to kick in in 2013.

Free agent profile: Kirk Hinrich - Los Angeles Times

This is the fourth in a series of profiles focusing on this year's free-agent class.

Player: Kirk Hinrich, point guard

Most recent team: Atlanta Hawks

Type of free agent: Unrestricted

Positives: The Lakers' biggest weaknesses in the backcourt were outside shooting and defense. The Lakers shot 32.6% from three-point range, which ranked 25th in the league. Even if the Lakers occasionally featured a strong outside shooting night from Kobe Bryant, Ramon Sessions, Steve Blake, Metta World Peace or Matt Barnes, none hit from long range on a consistent basis. Meanwhile, the Lakers rarely could stop top-flight point guards, whether it was with Derek Fisher,  Sessions or Blake.

Hinrich would immediately help in those two areas. He's shot 37.9% from three-point range during his nine-year career. Hinrich would make teams pay when they double-team Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. And Hinrich brings a defensive intensity that suits Coach Mike Brown's  system. The Lakers shouldn't pursue Hinrich as Sessions' possible replacement. Instead, the Lakers should view him as a backup combo guard who can ease Bryant's minutes at shooting guard and give the Lakers another decent player to run the point.

Negatives: After posting career-highs in the 2006-07 season in points (16.6), field-goal percentage (44.8%) and three-point shooting (41.5%), his production has fluctuated. Hinrich hit rock bottom last season when he averaged only 6.6 points on 41.4% shooting and a 34.6% mark from three-point range as well as a 9.25 player-efficiency rating.

Would it really be worth the risk for the Lakers to possibly cough up their mini mid-level exception worth $3 million just to see Hinrich go on another cold spell? The Lakers thought they made a steal last season by signing sharpshooter Jason Kapono to the veteran's minimum, but he shot only 38.2% from the field and 29.6% from three-point range.

Verdict: The Chicago Tribune reported that the Bulls will pursue Hinrich, though they won't offer him the full mid-level exception. Hinrich has also told reporters he wouldn't accept any offer for the veteran's minimum. Because of these considerations, the Lakers shouldn't get their hopes up. He's worth it for the mini mid-level. But by no means should the Lakers make any trades to secure Hinrich's services.

RELATED:

Free-agent profile: Raymond Felton

Free agency profile: Deron Williams

NBA draft: Lakers reaching a crossroads regarding their future

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com. Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter and on Facebook.

Amar'e Stoudemire plans to work with Hakeem Olajuwon this summer - Yahoo! Sports (blog)

Amar'e Stoudemire confuses "The Dream Shake" for a dance craze (Jim McIsaac/ Getty).

As NBA players get older and their athleticism wanes, they look for new ways to improve their games. Dwyane Wade, for instance, is currently searching for a shooting coach given his relative struggles in this past postseason. Over the past few years, the most high-profile efforts to improve have involved visiting a different sort of coach: retired Rockets great and master of the post Hakeem Olajuwon. Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James have all worked with "The Dream," and each has developed an expanded game in subsequent seasons. If you watched these NBA Playoffs, you know that LeBron might not have led the Heat to victory without his expanded work inside.

This summer, another notable player has plans to work with Hakeem. Except this one is a little different than Kobe and LeBron â€" it's Amar'e Stoudemire, Knicks forward and inappropriate tweeter. From Jared Zwerling for ESPNNewYork.com (via SLAM):

Olajuwon will fly to New York in August to train with Stoudemire. The source also said Tyson Chandler might join Stoudemire for the workouts, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Olajuwon, 49, has previously worked one-on-one with three of the best players in the game: Kobe Bryant (2009), Dwight Howard (2010) and LeBron James last summer. Each player showed immediate improvement on the block in the following season.

Stoudemire's future work with Olajuwon could signal Mike Woodson's coaching strategy to use him more in the low post and have Chandler become the team's main high pick-and-roller with Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony. (Stoudemire has more of a foundation in the low post already.)

In this scenario, the Knicks could have more defined roles and less crowding on the court, which would lead to better ball movement and scoring opportunities. They also need to score more in the paint and have more bodies for offensive rebounds besides Chandler, as they finished this past season in the middle of the league in both categories.

Amar'e has always been a pretty great scorer, but his arsenal of moves and shots hasn't involved many back-to-the-basket options. Instead, he succeeds in the face-up game: taking jumpers, moving off screens-and-rolls, and driving in isolation. A move to a more traditional role would be a pretty big change for his game, though he still figures to use his past style as a foundation.

In truth, that change wouldn't be the worst thing for Stoudemire's career. As he gets older and his long history of injuries takes its toll, Amar'e has lost much of his elite (i.e. among the all-time best for a big man) athleticism. With lingering back and knee problems, he's not the explosive dynamo who terrorized defenses in Phoenix for so many years. Relying more on a back-to-the-basket game would help keep him relevant as his ailing body limits him. That should aid the Knicks, too, if Woodson can get all the parts to fit.

The shift will be difficult for Stoudemire, surely. However, he's had to change his game before, most notably after returning from microfracture knee surgery in 2006-07. Once a demonic attacking force, Amar'e reined in his explosive tendencies and became more reliant on his jumper and creativity. The capacity to change is there. And if it all works out, Stoudemire might be able to rid himself of the bad vibes that have attended his last few months with the Knicks and become one of New York's favorite residents once again.

Lakers extend qualifying offer to Devin Ebanks - Los Angeles Times

The flurry of activity surrounding free agency doesn't officially begin until 9 p.m. Saturday, but the Lakers are already bracing for it.

They extended a qualifying offer to forward Devin Ebanks, making him a restricted free agent. Although he's free to sign with any team, the Lakers have the right to match any offer he receives from another team.

In recent weeks, Ebanks' agent, David Bauman, has sent what he called a "Matrix" to a number of unspecified teams around the league, including the Lakers, outlining various statistics he believes illustrates how Ebanks contributed when given the chance to play.

Ebanks averaged four points on 41.6% shooting from the field and 2.3 rebounds in 16.5 minutes in the regular season, but showed some growth signs during unexpected promotions. Ebanks started at shooting guard for seven games in April while Kobe Bryant sat out with a left shin injury, averaging 6.14 points on 48.71% shooting in 25.2 minutes a game. On April 22 against Oklahoma City, Ebanks suddenly entered the game after Metta World Peace earned an ejection for elbowing James Harden and Matt Barnes sprained his right ankle. Ebanks made two steals in the final minute of the second ovetime while holding Kevin Durant to five-of-19 shooting when he played the entire fourth quarter and subsequent overtimes. Ebanks also started at small forward during World Peace's seven-game suspension, scoring in double digits in three of those contests.

The Lakers have praised the lanky and athletic Ebanks for his work ethic, defense and unassuming personality in his second season with the Lakers. But his playing time came in spurts. He started four games to open the season only to disappear down the depth chart behind World Peace and Barnes. From Jan. 3 to April 6, Ebanks played a combined five minutes through 34 games. He even appeared in three games for the D-Fenders, the Lakers' Development League affiliate.

Bauman has tabbed signing Ebanks to a multi-year deal at either two or three years with the Lakers as his top priority. Though he conceded "no one is looking at Devin as a starter," Bauman remains open to helping Ebanks pursue other teams should his opportunities remain limited with the Lakers.

"He's the Lakers' to lose," Bauman said. "If they want to sign him, they can sign him. ... Each year the Lakers can't make big trades because they don't have the assets, someone like Devin becomes more important."

RELATED:

Lakers still trying to trade into first round

Should Lakers trade Pau Gasol for Josh Smith? [Poll]

NBA draft: Lakers don't deserve blame for lack of first-round picks

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com. Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter and on Facebook.

NBA draft: Lakers reaching a crossroads regarding their future - Los Angeles Times

The continuous loop played out during the NBA draft. Commissioner David Stern walked to the lectern. He announced the latest draft selection. ESPN cameras soon zoomed in on the emotional prospect and his family. The networks analysts then assessed to what degree these players could either lift a franchise or simply upgrade a team's roster.

For the Lakers, however, the scene just brought another reminder of how difficult and unpredictable the effort to restore championship success could be.

The Times' Mike Bresnahan reported that the Lakers tried and failed to improve their draft position with trades. The Lakers had hoped they could find a team interested in Pau Gasol so they could draft Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. But the Charlotte Bobcats selected Kidd-Gilchrist second overall. Bresnahan reported the Lakers highly coveted Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger and Baylor center Perry Jones, but couldn't find a trading partner before both were snatched away late in the first round.

Instead, the Lakers only upgraded their roster by acquiring Marquette guard Darius Johnson-Odom for cash after the Dallas Mavericks selected him with the 55th pick. Then, the Lakers ended the draft by taking 7-foot Gonzaga center Robert Sacre with the 60th pick.

"This is really the beginning phase of when teams look to improve," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. It could also be the beginning phase of a difficult task for the front office. Should the Lakers only make modest tweaks, it could help the team on a short-term basis. But it wouldn't solve the the fundamental long-term issues as an aging team with an $80-million-plus payroll. Should the Lakers blow up the team outside of Kobe Bryant, as Magic Johnson once suggested, the approach could help the rebuilding effort at the expense of contending for a championship for the next few seasons.

Behind this delicate balancing act Kupchak admits, "Our assets are limited."

The Lakers only have an $8.9-million trade exception, stemming from the Lamar Odom trade. They also can acquire a free agent through the mini mid-level exception, worth $3 million.

The players currently on roster also limit the Lakers' options.

Bryant's not going anywhere, even if he's owed $58.3 million in the next two seasons and on the tail end of his career. He remains the team's best player and shipping him off would be a public relations disaster. Even if any impending moves will bear on the Lakers' fortunes after Bryant's playing career has ended, Kupchak conceded, "I don't know how you plan for that."

So far, the Lakers have repeatedly shopped Gasol around, attempting to rid themselves of his two-year, $58-million contract. But the Lakers have rejected offers (Atlanta's Josh Smith) and been rejected (when trying to move up in the draft). The Lakers haven't began talks with Andrew Bynum over a long-term deal, but Kupchak suggested they consider it a priority. Same too with re-signing Ramon Sessions, though there aren't any guarantees after he opted out of his $4.55-million player option.

Things become even dicier once free agency begins Saturday at 9 p.m. Sessions, Matt Barnes and Troy Murphy will become unrestricted free agents, while Jordan Hill, Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris will become restricted free agents. Kupchak suggested the fate of those players will mostly rest on what market value they attract.

That leaves the Lakers in a state of flux that Kupchak epitomizes best with his public comments. Kupchak boasted, "I don't see why we couldn't be in the hunt next year," should the current roster stay intact. Yet, he conceded the Lakers stategy that they "will try to hit a home run."

As the Lakers did leading up to the NBA draft, they may just whiff. Or they may hit a long ball after working the count. No one knows, for sure.

RELATED:

Lakers still trying to trade into first round

Should Lakers trade Pau Gasol for Josh Smith? [Poll]

NBA draft: Lakers don't deserve blame for lack of first-round picks

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com. Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter and on Facebook.

Why Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh Are Starting a Dangerous Precedent for U.S. Hoops - Bleacher Report

Since the 1989 FIBA ruling allowed NBA players to compete in the Olympics, the United States rosters have showcased a venerable collection of the game's best of the best.

From Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson on the '92 "Dream Team" to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on the '08 "Redeem Team", the NBA's elite have given their time and effort in helping America maintain it's dominance of international basketball.

An invitation to simply compete for a place on the national team is one of the highest honors a basketball player can receive. But being given a roster spot on that team is being guaranteed a place in basketball history.

So concern was probably the best way to describe the feelings of the collective fan base when word broke that Dwyane Wade would not participate in next month's Olympics.

In his defense, he needs knee surgery before the start of the 2012-13 NBA season and felt he could not afford the delay the Olympic Games would present.

But Wade's absence from the team marks the departure of the top scorer from that Redeem Team. Wade averaged 16.0 points during that eight game march to gold, despite seeing just the sixth most minutes on the team (18.8).

But with word that now Chris Bosh has pulled his name from Olympic consideration, there are more than just concerns for this roster. 

Remember, injuries have already cost Team U.S.A. Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chauncey Billups. 

Bosh's absence leaves a void in the post with Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love the only big men considered locks for a spot on the team. Throw in the fact that Bosh led the 2008 team in rebounds (6.1) and had the second-highest field goal percentage (.774), there are now legitimate worries surrounding this team.

Which big man should Team U.S.A. choose?

Which big man should Team U.S.A. choose?

• Blake Griffin

• Lamar Odom

• Anthony Davis

• Other (specify in comments)

• Total votes: 0

Blake Griffin, Lamar Odom and Thursday night's number one pick, Anthony Davis, will compete for at least spot on the roster, which will be officially announced on July 7.

But the precedent that Bosh and Wade may be setting could be doing something far worse than weakening this rosterâ€"it could be a return to the shocking mediocrity that early 2000's Team U.S.A. basketball experienced.

After narrowly escaping with a two-point victory in the 2000 semifinal against Lithuania, the American team rebounded with a 10-point victory in the championship game.

By 2002, many of the league's top stars (including Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant) had declined invitations from Team U.S.A. and the American's "B" team suffered the first defeat for any U.S.A. team featuring NBA players, falling to Argentina in the FIBA World Championships.

By the end of the tournament, they had added losses two and three for NBA-led American teams.

The 2004 Olympic team clearly bettered the star power of that disastrous FIBA roster, but the team struggled just the same.

This team earned their own undesired place in history, as just the third Team U.S.A. to fail to win the Gold Medal (they did "manage" the bronze), and the first to do so with a roster of NBA players. Not to mention, that the U.S. had only two losses on its entire Olympic basketball resume prior to this tournament, before dropping three contests in this Olympic Games.

Both Wade and Bosh clearly have their minds focused on the opportunity to become repeat NBA champions, and their value to Miami's roster cannot be overstated.

But it only takes a few more moves like this before the Americans are bumped from their top spot on the championship podium, or even bumped from the podium altogether.

Tony Capozzola, Endorses Local Bail Bondsman - Virtual-Strategy Magazine

Attorney To The Stars, Tony Capozzola, Endorses Local California Bail Bondsman

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 29, 2012

Here's a weird mix... Tommy Lasorda, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson and many more... Minus the blue LA hat, Lakers' jersey and the shiny glove covered in glitter, what do these icons have in common besides multimillion-dollar bank accounts and world-wide fame? Two words: Tony Capozzola. Tony Capozzola, attorney to the stars and one of the most prolific defense attorneys of all time, has recently endorsed a local California bail bondsman. While this may seem unimportant to many, it quickly becomes relevant in light of the fact that Tony Capozzola, despite his fame and notoriety, doesn't advertise, never gives endorsements, and has a Verizon phone book listing that simply states: Tony Capozzola - DON'T CALL ME!

In a recent interview, endorsing Paul Columbis of Bail Man Bail Bonds, Tony Capozzola states:

"I don't advertise. The only advertisement I have, if you look in Verizon, is - DON'T CALL ME! It has no phone number, no address, and basically I never, ever give endorsements, nor do I advertise. Cause' frankly I really don't give a damn, if at this stage in my life, whether or not (we) I get clients or not. But if I do get a client, it's somebody I care about."

How's that for honesty? With multimillion-dollar clients, such as Michael Jackson and Kobe Bryant, Tony Capozzola insists that his clients receive only the best service, and in his eyes, only first-class service will do! Towards the end of this "no-bars-held", "once-in-a-lifetime" endorsement, Tony Capozzola states:

"...if I do get a client, it's somebody I care about, and for that reason, I refer them to Paul Columbis... Like I said, I don't advertise. If you Google me, you'll find out who I am and what I do, and if you ever really wanna' have a client... Like I said, my client (list) is closed except for very few clients, and guys I really want to have (them) handled in a first class way. That's why I will give them to Paul Columbis..."

About Paul Columbis and Bail Man Bail Bonds

Bail Man Bail Bonds is a family owned and operated bail bond company, professionally serving clients within the state of California (Insurance License #1845034). This husband and wife team, who collectively have over twenty years within the bail bond industry, are the foundation and "heart" of the Bail Man Bail Bonds Company.

Providing instant, hassle-free, bail bond approvals, Bail Man Bail Bonds , under the guidance of Paul Columbis and his wife, personally offer the most discreet bail bondsman services in any emergency situations, guaranteeing help to friends and loved ones when they need it the most!

For More Information Please Contact:

Mr. Paul Columbis
Insured, Certified, Bondsman: (Insurance License #1845034)
Bail Man Bail Bonds
1-866- 945-Bail (2245)
Email: abailman(at)hotmail(dot)com
http://www.bailmanbailbonds.net

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/6/prweb9568845.htm

NBA Draft: Mitch Kupchak: 'We'll try to hit a home run' - Los Angeles Times

In a bemusing tone, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak apologized to reporters who waited five hours to talk to him about two inconsequential late second-round draft acquisitions.

But the focus on the Lakers' offseason efforts will hardly center on the prospects of Marquette point guard Darius Johnson-Odom or Gonzaga center Robert Sacre. It will zero in on the Lakers' failure to move up higher in the draft and whether the Lakers can make what Kupchak described as a "home run" during free agency.

Yet, Kupchak shared plenty of nuggets that show the effort will be difficult.

1. Kupchak had hoped to trade up in the first round. He described the effort as "active," which The Times' Mike Bresnahan reported involving dangling Pau Gasol in hopes to get one of the draft's first few picks. But that effort fell short. So, too, did the Lakers' hopes to acquire a mid-level first-round pick to acquire Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger, who the Boston Celtics selected at 21st overall. Bresnahan also reported the Lakers showed interest in Baylor center Perry Jones III, but couldn't find a trading partner as his stock tumbled amid concern about a balky knee. Oklahoma City eventually took him with the 28th pick.

"To get into the first round, it's not that easy to do without pledging substantial assets," Kupchak said. "To some degree, it was a challenge to look for something that was fair to do."

2. The Lakers plan to engage in more trade talks. Gasol shouldn't breathe a sigh of relief yet. All things considered, no one outside of Kobe Bryant should really feel settled. Kupchak said the front office will continue trade discussions in what he said was "the beginning phase of when teams look to improve their team." Considering the Lakers only have an $8.9 million trade exception and a mid-level slot worth $3 million, a trade could serve as the only way to bolster the lineup.

The Lakers will do that throughout the free-agency period. But the NBA has a so-called "Moratorium Period" from July 1-10 during which teams may hold negotiations but cannot sign contracts.

3. Kupchak admits the importance in retaining Ramon Sessions. The Lakers have no idea if Sessions' decision to opt out of his $4.55 million player option means the beginning of a divorce or just a temporary breakup. Even if the Lakers aren't guaranteeing they would sign Sessions to a multi-year deal of his choosing, Kupchak said he plans on reaching out to Sessions' representatives Saturday at 9 p.m., which officially marks the beginning of free agency.

"That's important," Kupchak said. "Normally nothing is determined. But it's a sign you have some interest."

4. Kupchak remained coy about his outlook on most of the team's pending free agents. These moves hardly qualify as the most pressing. But once July 1st hits, the Lakers will eventually have to address them. In addition to Sessions becoming an unrestricted free agent, so, too, will small forward Matt Barnes and power forward Troy Murphy. Meanwhile, Lakers power forward Jordan Hill, small foreward Devin Ebanks and point guard Darius Morris will all become restricted free agents.

The Lakers aren't expected to bring back Murphy or Barnes. They are expected to re-sign Hill, Ebanks and Morris so long as they don't attract expensive offers from other teams. Still, Kupchak said the team's decision-making process will mostly hinge on what happens July 1st.

"We'll react to what other teams may want to do," Kupchak said. "I can't answer the question as to who we will sign back and who we won't. I just don't know right now."

5. Kupchak described his meeting with Kobe Bryant as "very positive." Bryant hasn't talked publicly since the Lakers fell in the Western Conference semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He and the Lakers mutually agreed that he skip the formal exit interviews the following week and meet at a later date. That moment came recently over breakfast, which Kupchak described as "very positive."

Surely, the Lakers' star had plenty to say on what's needed for the Lakers to return to a championship level. But Kupchak declined to share specifics.

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com. Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter and on Facebook.

ALSO:

NBA draft 2012: Pick-by-pick recap

Lakers acquire Johnson-Odom, Sacre in draft

Lakers make a deal on draft day, but not that deal

Kobe Bryant Left Off 'NBA 2K13′ Cover - mediabistro.com

By Marcus Vanderberg on June 26, 2012 12:00 PM

Kobe who?

Kobe Bryant, the longtime face of the NBA, was left off the “NBA 2K13″ video game cover for Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant.

The last two versions of the wildly popular basketball game featured NBA legends, but Bryant was the sole cover boy for “NBA 2K10.”

“Kobe is a great, great friend of the NBA 2K franchise, but each year we continue to evolve and we want to do different things,” 2K Sports vice president of marketing Jason Argent told the Los Angeles Times in a phone interview. “This year, it’s focused more on the young guys. But Kobe is always part of our family. We think very highly of him and what he’s done.”

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NBA Rumors: Lakers, Kobe Bryant Considering Trading Pau Gasol to Timberwolves? - Opposing Views

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t trade Pau Gasol before the 2012 NBA Draft, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

After weeks of speculation and countless rumors, L.A. brass ultimately resisted the urge to trade its talented, multiple-time All-Star for pennies on the dollar. However, should fans take anything away from the fact that Gasol remained in purple and gold through Thursday night?

Absolutely, positively not.

Less than eight hours after the draft wrapped, here is the latest Gasol trade gossip via the good folks at Associated Press:

The Minnesota Timberwolves are pulling out all the stops in an effort to land Pau Gasol.

If they have to part with the highest draft choice in franchise history after just one season, the Wolves appear ready to do it.

That much became clear leading up to the NBA draft on Thursday, when Minnesota offered Derrick Williams to the Charlotte Bobcats for the No. 2 pick as a vehicle to help them land Gasol from the Los Angeles Lakers, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

The Timberwolves’ motivation for trying to land Gasol is clear. He’d be a perfect piece to add alongside the likes of Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. What they could actually offer L.A., however, is a whole different story. Beyond just their general lack of assets, now that they don’t have a draft pick bargaining chip to work with, the likelihood of Minny being able to swing something becomes even slimmer.

Still, if there is one thing to take away from this it’s that the offers for Gasol will be there. A lot of teams need a talented, skilled four with championship pedigree. If the Lakers are truly desperate to give away their second or third best player â€" they’ll be able to do so.

Whether they should or not, though, is a very different question.

Get more Lakers news and rumors on Twitter: @agroberman

(Kudos HuffPo)

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AP sources: Timberwolves making run at Pau Gasol - Yahoo! Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying hard to land Pau Gasol.

If they have to part with the highest draft choice in franchise history after just one season, the Wolves appear ready to do it.

That much became clear leading up to the NBA draft on Thursday, when Minnesota offered Derrick Williams in hopes of landing the second pick from the Charlotte Bobcats to help get Gasol from the Los Angeles Lakers, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

The people requested anonymity because the talks were meant to remain private. The deal never came together before the draft began, and the Bobcats stayed at No. 2 and took Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

The Timberwolves are expected to continue their pursuit of Gasol in hopes of putting him with fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love on a revamped roster aimed at returning the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Wolves' interest in Gasol has long been rumored, with the highly skilled big man considered an ideal fit for coach Rick Adelman's corner offense, and the kind of playoff-tested veteran needed on one of the youngest rosters in the NBA. He's close friends with Rubio, the Wolves' superb young point guard who is recovering from a torn ACL and hopes to be ready early next season.

Gasol has teamed with Kobe Bryant to win two titles in Los Angeles, but always seemed to catch the brunt of the criticism when things went wrong.

That happened again this year when he averaged just 12.5 points along with 9.5 rebounds in the playoffs, and the Lakers were eliminated in the second round by the younger, quicker Oklahoma City Thunder. He often appeared to get lost in the shuffle while Bryant and Andrew Bynum got most of the touches on offense.

He was the subject of trade rumors all season, starting before it began when Commissioner David Stern, operating as owner of the New Orleans Hornets, nixed a deal that would have sent Gasol to Houston as part of a package for Chris Paul to the Lakers.

''It has been a crazy year and a lot to deal with. ... Unfortunately, we had tough losses and things didn't really go our way for the most part,'' the four-time All-Star said at the end of the season. ''You just have to regroup and digest this loss and this season, and learn from it and move on.''

Gasol is due to make more than $38 million over the next two seasons, an enormous sum that the salary cap-strapped Lakers might have difficulty footing under the harsher luxury tax penalties scheduled to kick in in 2013.

Love's max contract extension kicks in next season, making him the only Timberwolves player who is expected to be on the roster next season making more than $4.6 million. If the Wolves buy out Martell Webster and decline to tender qualifying offers to Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph, as expected, they should have plenty of cap room for Gasol.

But if they want to bring him in to play alongside Love in the frontcourt, it likely will come at a hefty price. Offering Williams, the second overall pick last season who showed promise and inconsistency in his rookie year, means the Wolves would be giving up on him after just one season. The 21-year-old Williams has plenty of potential to grow into the star that many projected when he entered the draft after his sophomore season at Arizona.

Gasol will turn 32 next week and played nearly 39,000 minutes in his career, raising the question if he has enough gas left in the tank to help turn the Timberwolves into a legitimate contender.

Williams knows the Wolves tried to deal him, but it's unclear how he will respond if he's still on the team at the start of training camp.

He averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds and was the only Timberwolves player to play in all 66 games last season. Williams had several big games during an inconsistent season, which included participating in the slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend. He scored 27 points in 27 minutes in a win over the Clippers in Los Angeles on Feb. 28 and had 27 points and eight boards in a loss at Denver on April 11.

But the 66-year-old Adelman has been pushing for the franchise to add more veterans, and he grew impatient at times with Williams last season.

Williams did most of his damage while playing power forward, which is the same position played by Love, who blossomed last year into a surprising MVP contender. With Love playing so many minutes at power forward, the Timberwolves were hoping Williams could drop some weight this summer to help him become quick enough to play small forward for the majority of the time.

Earlier this week, Kahn said Williams was already down to 233 pounds, with a personal goal of 225.

''I think the most important fact about Derrick to me is that he turned 21 last month. He's still very, very young,'' Kahn said Wednesday. ''This is a very important summer for him to demonstrate if he's serious about his craft, his occupation, that he's serious about himself. This is the offseason. I challenged him in his exit interview, and I'm eager to see the results of this summer.''

Kahn declined to list Williams with Rubio and Love as ''untouchable'' players when the team considers trades this summer.

''We have two untouchables,'' Kahn said. ''That doesn't mean everyone else will be traded this summer. We just don't know.''

---

Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski .

2012 NBA draft - ESPN (blog)

Will Austin Rivers be a bust?

I’ve been asked that question a lot over the past few days.

I’ve pored over game tape, talked to several NBA scouts and GMs and sifted through the various analytics available before coming to a conclusion: Given his rise on draft boards -- in some cases as high as No. 6 overall -- he’s being overrated.

And I’ve said as much in various places recently.

In my look at the 10 biggest questions in the 2012 NBA draft, I asked whether Rivers was more likely to become the next Kobe Bryant or Jerryd Bayless. I picked Bayless.

During ESPN’s "First Take" draft special, I took issue with Skip Bayless' declaring that Rivers should be the No. 2 pick.

And in a 7,900-word draft debate on Grantland with Bill Simmons, we had the following lively exchange on the difference between Weber State’s Damian Lillard and Rivers:

FORD: Lillard is a willing passer. Rivers isn't and will never be. Lillard made dramatic improvements from year to year. I thought Rivers was the exact player in college that he was in high school. Lillard is a team player. He was the second most efficient player in college basketball DESPITE being the only decent player on his entire roster; teams game planned to stop him and him alone every night. I just don't see Rivers ever being anywhere near as unselfish or efficient. I think Rivers will be shocked at the athleticism and length at his position. He'll try to do the same things at which he excelled in high school, spend a lot of time on the bench, get into it with his coach and teammates, get traded in a year or two to a desperate team, put up huge numbers for a cellar-dweller for a year or two, make some money, and eventually, teams will realize he can't be the alpha dog on a winning team.

SIMMONS: Other than that, you're a huge Austin Rivers fan.

FORD: I honestly think Rivers is the one guy I wouldn't touch in the lottery. Too toxic for team chemistry, doesn't have the same physical tools to make it worth it.

Put all of that together and it sounds like I’m piling on Rivers.

I’m not.

But the perception is there. Rivers’ former head coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, even called me up concerned that I or someone else was questioning Rivers’ character.

I’m not. I’m questioning how his mental approach to the game, combined with his skills and physical tools, translate at the next level.

To be clear, I’m sure Rivers is a nice young man and I don’t have concerns about his character. In fact, Coach K believes that Rivers’ ultracompetitive personality is what will help him at the next level.

“He is an alpha dog. I think he will succeed in the NBA because of that,” Krzyzewski said. “He believes he’s going to be great. I’d rather have a guy like that than a guy who doesn’t believe in himself.”

He also acknowledged that Rivers, like every young prospect, still has a lot of work to do.

“He needs to be a better rebounder and a defender on and off the ball,” Krzyzewski said.

“Some players, they learn one punch. When you take that punch away, they get knocked out. He needs to use that aggressive mentality to work on new things about his game.

“When Austin came to Duke, I told him that every player is like a house: The more skills you learn, the more windows you have on your house. When he came to Duke, he had one really big window. He was an amazing scorer. The goal was to add more windows to his game. He’s in that process right now.

“I hope he gets a demanding coach at the next level who pushes him to keep adding to his game. That’s how he’ll become great. If he reverts back to just doing the thing he does well, his chances lessen that he’s a good player in the NBA.”

He also noted that despite rumors to the contrary, he liked working with Rivers.

“He was very coachable and he’s a very good young man,” Krzyzewski said. “I like him. He was never a problem. He fit in well. He likes the game. He was a good kid to coach.”

Coach K said that any chemistry issues with the team this past season, which ended with the No. 2-seeded Blue Devils being knocked out in the first round of the NCAA tournament, probably had more to do with its lack of seniors. He said that as players get older, they get more secure in who they are and what they can do and don’t feel as threatened by newcomers with the skills of someone like Rivers.

“We had a young team, maturity-wise, this year,” Krzyzewski said. “I would’ve rather had him playing with Nolan Smith and Kyle Singer. I think they would’ve reacted better to his aggressive attitude. We didn’t always use his attitude properly.”

Fair enough. Other than his father, Doc Rivers, no one knows him better.

No LeBron James or Kobe Bryant at London 2012 Games? David Stern Wants to Make ... - PolicyMic

No LeBron James or Kobe Bryant at London 2012 Games David Stern Wants to Make it Happen

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This July, the United States, along with all other qualifying teams, will send their best basketball players to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant, among other all-stars making the trip, it seems like a no-brainer that the U.S. is the absolute favorite to win gold. Since the event was introduced in 1936, the U.S. has taken home 13 gold medals, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes. 

However, what if Olympic basketball became a 23-and-under event, making most of the current team ineligible?

Recently, it was reported that NBA commissioner David Stern has pushed for this age limit in order to revitalize a different international basketball contest: the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Rather than the Olympics, Stern envisions basketball’s biggest names playing at the recharged “World Cup of Basketball” in the hopes that the NBA could share in the increased revenues generated by FIBA.

From the name, it is natural to compare Stern’s concept to the FIFA World Cup, always one of the most anticipated sporting affairs. From ticket sales, the contest is extremely profitable, a quality that Stern, along with NBA owners, hopes to achieve in his version of the “World Cup.”

Currently, the FIBA World Cup is completely in the shadow of Olympic basketball as exemplified by the Beijing Olympics and 2010 FIBA World Championships. In Beijing, the “Redeem Team,” consisting of James, Wade, and Bryant along with Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince and Carmelo Anthony, won the gold medal easily. However, these 12 superstars, the best the U.S. had to offer, all opted out of the World Championships for a variety of reasons ranging from free agency to personal reasons. Rather, younger players, namely Durant and Russell Westbrook, led the U.S. to their fourth FIBA gold since the contest began.

But, if Stern’s vision becomes reality, there would be a role reversal, as the Olympics would then showcase the world’s best up-and-coming, young basketball players.

At this point, we are unable to predict what will happen with respect to this age threshold. But, which 12 players would the U.S. send to London if the team were 23-and-under? Here’s what the team would look like:

Starting Lineup (w/ 2011-2012 statistics):

• Point Guard Derrick Rose: (discounting torn ACL): 21.8 ppg, 7.9 apg, 3.4 rpg
• Guard Russell Westbrook: 23.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.6 rpg
• Forward Kevin Durant: 28.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.5 apg
• Forward Blake Griffin: 20.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg
• Forward/Center Kevin Love: 26.0 ppg, 13.3 rpg

Key Bench Players (w/ 2011-2012 statistics):

• Shooting Guard Eric Gordon: 20.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.8 rpg
• Shooting Guard James Harden: 16.8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 4.1 rpg
• Forward Anthony Davis: N/A
• Point Guard Kyrie Irving: 18.5 ppg, 5.4 apg
• Center DeMarcus Cousins: 18.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg
• Center Greg Monroe: 15.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
• Power Forward Kenneth Faried: 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg

*players in italics on current 18-man preliminary 2012 Olympic Men’s Basketball roster

Lakers Rumors: Team Must Use Pau Gasol to Add Youth Alongside Kobe Bryant - Bleacher Report

The Los Angeles Lakers are in need of a youth movement, and they are trying to create one. The problem is how to get there.

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, Pau Gasol might be the answer. 

So here's the issue with this. For the Lakers to win, they have to jettison some of their elite talent, and the most tradeable player they have right now that can land them something significant in return is Pau Gasol. 

However, it's hard to trade a 31-year-old player who is getting paid $20 million for a lottery pick, and there's a good reason for that. 

Players at the top of the lottery are horrible. They're the worst teams in the NBA. That's why they're at the top of the lottery. 

You don't build a team around a maxed out player in his 30s. By the time you get enough pieces around him, he'll be patrolling the lane with a walker. 

Does that mean it's impossible for the Lakers to parlay Pau Gasol into a young player like Michael Kidd-Gilhrist though? No. It just means it's very difficult to do it directly. Indirectly, though, there's a better chance. 

A three-way trade could be intriguing. The Houston Rockets are looking to land a center for themselves. They've accumulated a number of assets to do so.

What if the Lakers were to try and work a three team trade or two separate trades? We know Houston traded for Gasol last year before they didn't. 

Should the Laker try and trade away Pau Gasol and go into "mini-rebuilding" mode?

Should the Laker try and trade away Pau Gasol and go into "mini-rebuilding" mode?

• Yes

• No

• Total votes: 78

The Lakers could try and work a trade revolving around Kyle Lowry and draft choices for Pau Gasol? 

Plus, the fact that Gasol is not a mere "rental" like Dwight Howard would add to sell value for Houston. 

The Lakers could then try and use those assets and turn them into a higher draft pick, which is a much more reasonable scenario. 

There may be some opposed in principle to going into a mini-rebuilding mode right now, but it's time to accept that the Lakers of 2010 are a done deal. They aren't going to win another title. A 1-8 record in the second round of the playoffs the last two years is all the evidence you need. 

The Lakers are getting older, not better, and they need a youth infusion if they are going to compete for a title in 2013 and give Kobe Bryant a chance for his sixth ring. If your argument has something to do with being "fair" to Kobe Bryant, that is what is fair to Kobe Bryant. 

Kobe Bryant: Would a Sixth Title Make the Michael Jordan Comparison Accurate? - Bleacher Report

Kobe vs. Michael Jordan might be less a debate than a debate about having a debate. Most MJ fans don't think the topic is legitimate, as their guy has six NBA Finals MVPs to his name.

Still, if Kobe Bryant is to win an eventual sixth title, that should open up "conversation," at the very least. Bryant certainly has a more diverse skillset. He can shoot from anywhereâ€"in his prime, he could hit fadeaway three-pointers. It is fair to say that Kobe perfected many elements of the game that Michael Jordan simply ignored.

The counter argument is that MJ was so dominant that he didn't need all those extra facets. Though never a long-range shooter, Jordan was always an efficient scorer, notching near a 54 percent field-goal mark in his best season. He was statistically superior to Bryant by almost any measure (PER, win shares, Wins Produced).

Bryant's advocates would rely on how it's a different game today, one that can't quite be dominated in the way Michael Jordan crushed defenses. To defend Kobe here, you need some nuance in explaining the value of his nuance. 

Be sure to sound off and let us know what you think in the comments below. If you like what you see, click here for more from Bleacher Report Productions. 

David Stern Olympics Plan Would Mean No LeBron James or Kobe Bryant at London ... - PolicyMic

David Stern Olympics Plan Would Mean No LeBron James or Kobe Bryant at London Games

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This July, the United States, along with all other qualifying teams, will send their best basketball players to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant, among other all-stars making the trip, it seems like a no-brainer that the U.S. is the absolute favorite to win gold. Since the event was introduced in 1936, the U.S. has taken home 13 gold medals, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes. 

However, what if Olympic basketball became a 23-and-under event, making most of the current team ineligible?

Recently, it was reported that NBA commissioner David Stern has pushed for this age limit in order to revitalize a different international basketball contest: the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Rather than the Olympics, Stern envisions basketball’s biggest names playing at the recharged “World Cup of Basketball” in the hopes that the NBA could share in the increased revenues generated by FIBA.

From the name, it is natural to compare Stern’s concept to the FIFA World Cup, always one of the most anticipated sporting affairs. From ticket sales, the contest is extremely profitable, a quality that Stern, along with NBA owners, hopes to achieve in his version of the “World Cup.”

Currently, the FIBA World Cup is completely in the shadow of Olympic basketball as exemplified by the Beijing Olympics and 2010 FIBA World Championships. In Beijing, the “Redeem Team,” consisting of James, Wade, and Bryant along with Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince and Carmelo Anthony, won the gold medal easily. However, these 12 superstars, the best the U.S. had to offer, all opted out of the World Championships for a variety of reasons ranging from free agency to personal reasons. Rather, younger players, namely Durant and Russell Westbrook, led the U.S. to their fourth FIBA gold since the contest began.

But, if Stern’s vision becomes reality, there would be a role reversal, as the Olympics would then showcase the world’s best up-and-coming, young basketball players.

At this point, we are unable to predict what will happen with respect to this age threshold. But, which 12 players would the U.S. send to London if the team were 23-and-under? Here’s what the team would look like:

Starting Lineup (w/ 2011-2012 statistics):

• Point Guard Derrick Rose: (discounting torn ACL): 21.8 ppg, 7.9 apg, 3.4 rpg
• Guard Russell Westbrook: 23.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.6 rpg
• Forward Kevin Durant: 28.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.5 apg
• Forward Blake Griffin: 20.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg
• Forward/Center Kevin Love: 26.0 ppg, 13.3 rpg

Key Bench Players (w/ 2011-2012 statistics):

• Shooting Guard Eric Gordon: 20.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.8 rpg
• Shooting Guard James Harden: 16.8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 4.1 rpg
• Forward Anthony Davis: N/A
• Point Guard Kyrie Irving: 18.5 ppg, 5.4 apg
• Center DeMarcus Cousins: 18.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg
• Center Greg Monroe: 15.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
• Power Forward Kenneth Faried: 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg

*players in italics on current 18-man preliminary 2012 Olympic Men’s Basketball roster

Lakers report card; Andrew Goudelock establishes niche on team - Los Angeles Times

This is the 13th in a series of posts grading the Lakers on the 2011-12 season.

Player: Andrew Goudelock, Lakers rookie guard

How he performed: 4.4 points on 39.1% shooting from the field and a 37.3% clip from three-point range in 10.5 minutes per game in the regular season; 1.3 points on 66.7% shooting and a perfect clip from three-point range in the playoffs.

The good: After seeing Goudelock make an array of three-pointers, floaters and pull-up jumpers, Kobe Bryant approached the Lakers' rookie and assigned him a nickname. The Black Mamba called Goudelock the Mini-Mamba, a fitting name considering Goudelock's uber confidence in taking his shots. Even as the 46th pick on a veteran-laden team, Goudelock quickly cemented himself in the Lakers rotation by duplicating the strong outside shooting that made him the College of Charleston's all-time leading scorer.

After going through a few games in which he committed typical rookie mistakes and proved too trigger happy, Goudelock soon settled down and simply tapped into his skill-set naturally. Even though he lacked the size and experience to run point guard, Mike Brown chose him as the Lakers' primary backup point guard during Steve Blake's 13-game absence due to injury in January because of those strengths. That included a five-game stretch in late January and early February in which he posted double-digit scoring in four of those contests. Hence, Bryant's nickname.

Even when Goudelock faced limited playing time and an uncertain role, he always kept a positive attitude. He routinely stayed late after practice and arrived early for pre-game warmups. Goudelock constantly worked on various weaknesses in his game, including ball-handling and defense. And he maintained the high level of confidence to take open shots whenever he saw them. That's why Goudelock should feel pretty optimistic the Lakers will exercise their team option to keep him next season. He's cheap, young and provides a distinguishable need.

The bad: Everything else regarding Goudelock's game remains pretty unpolished. He's generously listed at 6-foot-3 and doesn't really have the size to defend or go one-on-one with many guards. Goudelock lacks much experience running at point guard and struggled in running the offense smoothly. He never lacked for effort defensively, but Goudelock would lose his footing on pick-and-rolls and when matched up one-on-one.

Because of those limitations, Goudelock rarely found much consistent playing time. Lakers Coach Mike Brown drastically reduced his role after the Lakers acquired Ramon Sessions before the trade deadline, since there was less of a need for point-guard production. Brown remained hesitant in featuring him late in the season and in the playoffs because his weaknesses often offset his strong shooting. Basically, Goudelock has a laundry list of things to correct when he plays in the Las Vegas Summer League next month.

Grade: B

All grades aren't created equal. In Goudelock's case, he deserves a B because he surpassed expectations relative to his draft position and current makeup of the Lakers' roster. Goudelock's strong outside shooting provided the Lakers a need that they mostly lacked from the rest of the team. His aforementioned weaknesses appear correctable. And for a team needing to get younger while also minimizing costs, the Lakers have plenty of reasons to keep him.

RELATED:

Lakers report card: Josh McRoberts' initial buzz wore off

What should the Lakers do with Pau Gasol? (Poll)

What should the Lakers do with Ramon Sessions? (Poll)

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com. Follow the Lakers blog on Twitter and onFacebook.