Lakers add Darius Johnson-Odom and Eric Boateng to training camp roster

In hopes of making training camp more competitive and a chance to rest some of the team’s veterans, the Lakers expanded their roster Wednesday by signing center Eric Boeteng and guard Darius Johnson-Odom to one-year, non guaranteed deals.

Johnson-Odom and Boeteng will earn the veteran’s minimum worth $788,872 and $490,180, respectively. Boeteng went undrafed in 2010 from Arizona State, while Johnson-Odom was drafted by the Lakers 55th overall last season. The Lakers waived the Marquette guard in January, and Johnson-Odom soon played for BC Spartak Saint Petersburg in Russia. Although the Lakers didn’t keep Johnson-Odom, they loved his athleticism.

The Lakers currently have 18 players on their roster and could add two more players before training camp begins Saturday. Among those players, seven have non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals, including Shawne Williams (partial), Elias Harris (partial), Xavier Henry (non-guarantee), Ryan Kelly (non guarantee) and Marcus Landry (non guarantee).

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday he’s open in fielding a 14 or 15-player roster. All NBA teams can carry a maximum of 15 for the regular season.

RELATED:

Mitch Kupchak “a little surprised” Shaquille O’Neal became minority owner of Sacramento Kings

Mitch Kupchak remaining patient with Kobe Bryant’s progress, contract extension talks

Mitch Kupchak: Jeanie Buss’ frustrations on last season’s coaching search “completely understandable”

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Mitch Kupchak “a little surprised” Shaquille O’Neal became minority owner of Sacramento Kings

The smirk on Mitch Kupchak’s face widened at the mere mention of his name.

Safe to say Kupchak’s admission that “it’s a little surprising” that Shaquille O’Neal became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings seems a bit understated. That’s because O’Neal spent part of his eight years with the Lakers dismissively calling the Sacramento franchise the “Queens” before eliminating them from the 2000 to 2002 NBA playoffs en route to three championships.

“I think it’s great,” Kupchak said Wednesday at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo. “I think the ownership there has a lot of energy and excitement and made some changes.”
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Mitch Kupchak remaining patient with Kobe Bryant’s progress, contract extension talks

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak expressed uncertainty when Kobe Bryant would return from rehabbing a surgically repaired left Achilles tendon. Photo credit: Scott Varley, Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak expressed uncertainty when Kobe Bryant would return from rehabbing a surgically repaired left Achilles tendon. Photo credit: Scott Varley, Los Angeles Newspaper Group

A smile bore on Mitch Kupchak’s face, suggesting eagerness for another season to start.

“What a treat!” the Lakers’ general manager greeted a larger number of media members Wednesday at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo. But one particular topic emerged that shows the uncertainty the Lakers face when they begin training camp Saturday and beyond.

That involved Kobe Bryant, who continues rehabbing a left Achilles tendon that will keep him out for at least the beginning of training camp. The Lakers offered no update on whether Bryant ahs progressed from running on a weight-bearing treadmill at 75 percent of his body weight. Before his return, Bryant must run at full body weight and progress toward basketball-related drills.

That makes it unclear if he will return for the Lakers’ season opener Oct. 29 against the Clippers, or any of the team’s eight exhibition games through Oct. 25.

“I do believe he’ll get back and he’ll play this season,” Kupchak said of Bryant. “You won’t be able to look at him and say he’s hurt. He’ll get back on the court and will be healthy. But he is 35 and his game has been evolving anyway in the last two or three years.”
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Mitch Kupchak: Jeanie Buss’ frustrations on last season’s coaching search “completely understandable”

LA Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak talks to reporters about the upcoming 2013-14 season from their training facility in El Segundo. (Wed. Sept. 25, 2013. Photo by Brad Graverson/The Daily Breeze

LA Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak talks to reporters about the upcoming 2013-14 season from their training facility in El Segundo. (Wed. Sept. 25, 2013. Photo by Brad Graverson/The Daily Breeze

Another Lakers season awaits, and that means the franchise’s soap opera continues.

Less than a week before training camp starts Saturday, excerpts from Jeanie Buss’ updated memoir were published in the Los Angeles Times detailing frustration on how the Lakers handled last season’s coaching search in choosing Mike D’Antoni over Phil Jackson. Jeanie, Jackson’s longtime companion, also detailed how that soured her relationship with her brother Jim, the team’s vice president of player personnel.

Although he played a part in the Lakers’ coaching search, general manager Mitch Kupchak lent a sympathetic ear.

“My understanding was that the book or the comments were made a year ago,” Kupchak said Wednesday at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo. “They’re completely understandable why she would feel the way she did. I get it completely.”
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Nick Young says he and Wesley Johnson will compete for starting spot

As he’s spent the past month in informal workouts at the Lakers’ practice facility, Nick Young has heard coach Mike D’Antoni harp on one thing and one thing only.

Shoot the ball.

Young hardly struggles with that, as evidenced by his gun-slinging ways that, for better and for worse, contributed to averaging 11.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and one assist in six seasons. Apparently, though, Young needs to dial it up even more.

“He was on me when I was passing so much earlier today,” Young said Tuesday night at the NBA2K14 launch party at the Greystone Manor in West Hollywood. “I didn’t have that in a while. I’m excited.”

How Young responds to that could determine his role. The former USC and Cleveland High of Reseda standout revealed D’Antoni’s intentions that both he and Wesley Johnson are spending part of training camp competing for the starting spot at small forward.

“I think it’s going to be a little bit of both,” Young said. “Wesley is young and athletic and could fit in that Shawn Marion type game. That’s what they like about him.”
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NBA features Kobe Bryant’s top plays in 2012-13 season

At a time when there remained little else to cheer about, there was still Kobe Bryant. At a time when the Lakers’ talented roster underachieved, Bryant somehow surpassed his greatness. At a time when plenty wondered how much he has left in his tank, Bryant suggested he has plenty of fuel.

With that, the NBA featured Bryant’s top plays in the 2012-13 season, and many of them will cause Lakers fans to wonder if they traveled back in time.
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Jeanie & Jim Buss downplay “Laker Girl” excerpts detailing frustration with relationship

Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson talks to the media about the Lakers at a Time Warner event to honor the late Jerry Buss in Los Angeles.  Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News

Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson talks to the media about the Lakers at a Time Warner event to honor the late Jerry Buss in Los Angeles. Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News

Do Jeanie and Jim Buss get along?

Excerpts from Jeanie’s updated memoir, Laker Girl, suggest they don’t. According to excerpts published by The Los Angeles Times, the Lakers president detailed how the front office passing on Phil Jackson in their coaching search last season and choosing Mike D’Antoni to replace the fired Mike Brown negatively affected her emotional well being.

Considering her allegiances to Jackson as a longtime companion, Jeanie also suggested in the memoir that the situation hurt her relationship with her brother Jim, the Lakers’ vice president of player personnel.

But in statements released by the Lakers, both Jeanie and Jim Buss downplayed what those excerpts suggest.

“The words and sentiments in Jeanie’s new book reflect her feelings and frustrations nearly a year ago, and how she felt at that time,” Jim Buss said in a statement. “I understand that Jeanie felt that way, and why she felt that way. Since that time, we have discussed the situation, the circumstances that led to it, and our feelings about it. Both of us feel this has been resolved and have put this behind us.”

“Jim has been great in terms of understanding my feelings about this and in fostering an atmosphere that has led to better communication,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “We have regular meetings and talks and are both committed to creating the best working environment possible, as are my sister and brothers as well. We are focused only on what is best for the franchise and in making the Lakers championship contenders.”

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NBA2K14 simulation predicts Lakers will miss playoffs

An NBA2K14 simulation has the Lakers missing the NBA playoffs. Photo Credit: NBA2K

An NBA2K14 simulation has the Lakers missing the NBA playoffs. Photo Credit: NBA2K

Anxiousness awaits for the Lakers’ training camp, and for what?

Very few tab them as NBA championship favorites. Uncertainty lingers on how Kobe Bryant will look after he heals his left Achilles tendon. Skepticism persists over whether Mike D’Antoni can lead these Lakers through troubled times.

That’s perhaps why NBA2K14, a video game that prides itself on comprehensive player analysis and credible game simulations, tabs the Lakers this season failing to reach the playoffs and finishing with a 35-47 record. Granted, NBA2K13 rated last year’s Lakers as the NBA championship favorites, and we all know how that turned out. The NBA2K franchise also may do its own simulations before the Oct. 1 release. I received an advance copy and performed my own simulation.

But there’s plenty of reasons to feel skeptical about the Lakers. Dwight Howard bolted for the Houston Rockets. The Lakers lost their best defensive player in Metta World Peace for the sake of saving luxury taxes through the amnesty provision. The Lakers’ offseason additions in Nick Young, Wesley Johnson, Chris Kaman and Jordan Farmar bring some added speed and additional scoring. But on paper, it appears the Lakers don’t have enough defensively.

“This team just doesn’t have enough athleticism and speed to contend for a title,” said Clark Kellog, who offers analysis with Steve Kerr while Kevin Harlan serves as the play-by-play announcer for the NBA2K14 game.
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NBA2K14 ranks Kobe Bryant as third best player

NBA2K14 ranks Kobe Bryant as the third best player behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Photo courtesy of 2K Sports

NBA2K14 ranks Kobe Bryant as the third best player behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Photo courtesy of 2K Sports

So much uncertainty surrounds Kobe Bryant these days.

When will his torn left Achilles tendon fully heal? How will Bryant look when he returns to the basketball court? To what degree will Bryant change his game? To what degree will Bryant reduce his scoring load and become a facilitator?
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NBA reveals Kobe Bryant’s top plays in 2011-12 season

This should’ve marked a time when Bryant’s creaky knees continued to stay wobbly. Instead, an offseason procedure in Germany ensured they stayed fresh. This should’ve marked a time when Bryant would sit out because of a throbbing concussion. Instead, Bryant still played while wearing a plastic mask. This should’ve marked a time when Bryant would experience his demise. Instead, Bryant maintained his dominance.

The Lakers’ 2011-12 season featured things far from pretty, ranging from the nixed Chris Paul trade, Lamar Odom getting shipped, Pau Gasol’s reduced role, a reduced training camp stemmed from the league lockout and coach Mike Brown struggling to replace Phil Jackson.

But as the video above shows, Bryant’s play remained beautiful to watch. He still ranked among the NBA’s leaders with his 27.9 points (second), 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists (25th) in 38.5 minutes (fourth). He dropped at least scored at least 30 points in 24 games and at least 40 points in five games. Bryant eventually eclipsed teammate and former adversary Shaquille O’Neal for fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
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