Chris Mihm and more
It sounds like Chris Mihm is not going to be healthy at the start of training camp and probably won't be playing in the Lakers' early exhibition games. Mihm is still recovering from the July 26 surgery he underwent on his right ankle. The Lakers originally thought Mihm would be ready for camp but his recovery has been slow going.
Kwame Brown figures to be the starting center and Mihm will have to find a role for himself once he is healed. This is a contract season for Mihm, so it's a shame to hear it will start out on the wrong note.
In other news, the Lakers are going to round out their training camp roster by signing forward Marcus Douthit, their second-round pick in the 2004 draft. The Lakers retained Douthit's rights even as he played overseas and in the NBA Development League. He averaged 10.9 points and 7.3 rebounds with the D-League's Albuquerque Thunderbirds last season.
Douthit has played in summer league for the Lakers the past three years but faces the longest of long odds to make the team. If Mihm is going to be out for an extended period, maybe the Lakers decide to add a big man and take a chance on him. Most likely, Douthit winds up back in the D-League playing for a call-up with another NBA team.
Good information.
mike
Good info Ross. Sounds like this could be a blessing in disguise. Kwame doesn't have to have the pressure of looking over his shoulder and the Lakers don't have to deal with any awkwardness about who should be the starting center. Hopefully Kwame comes out and improves on how he played at the end of last year and it will be a dead issue. Mihm now needs to find a niche off the bench. Maybe he can learn to play a little four as a backup to get more minutes.
Ross, since Lamar is back in town, have you had any conversations with him? Hopefully he can use the game as a distraction from what went on in his personal life. I wish him and his family the best and know all Lakers fans feel the same.
So that's why Atlanta was wary of taking Mihm in a sign-and-trade for Al Harrignton .........hmmn.
Could be a good opportunity for young Bynum to get some consistent minutes as the backup center.