n this file photo, the Lakers’ Kendall Marshall makes an errant pass behind his head as Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried defends him under the basket at the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze file)
Plenty of concerns swirl around Kendall Marshall surrounding his development and his Lakers’ future. But with the Lakers holding a team option on him and likely to keep him at least through training camp, Marshall can view the Lakers’ offseason with some detachment. Unlike most of his Lakers teammates, most of the proceedings will significantly affect his standing with the Lakers.
“It’s entertaining. It’s comedy to me to be honest with you,” Marshall said. “You see all the stuff that teams go through for players.”
That included the Lakers having a meeting last Thursday with New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo. Shortly before the 2 1/2 hour meeting began, Marshall facetiously tweeted that the Lakers refused to let him in the pitch meeting that included executives Jim and Jeanie Buss, general manager Mitch Kupchak, former Lakers forward James Forward and executives with Time Warner Cable SportsNet and AEG.
“I knocked on the door and they said, ‘Go away,'” Marshall said. “I don’t know what’s going on out there.”
Marshall also professed ignorance on whether Jordan Farmar’s departure to the Clippers signified Marshall would have a greater role than last season. After all, uncertainty persists considering only Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Robert Sacre and Julius Randle have guaranteed contracts for the 2013-14 season. Both Marshall and second-round draft pick Jordan Clarkson have non-guaranteed contracts.
“Just to work hard. That’s the only thing I can control,” Marshall said. “If I control anything else, I’ll drive my self crazy. I just want to focus on what I can control.”
Marshall spent most of the offseason working on individual drills. He will suit up for the Lakers’ summer league team that begins play in Las Vegas on Friday. Without knowing who the Lakers will hire as the head coach, Marshall has shifted his usual focus on mastering the coach’s system toward mastering his own deficiencies.
Marshall averaged eight points and 8.8 assists through 54 games with the Lakers after toiling in the Development League. His 39.9 percent clip from three-point shooting reflected a mix of streaky marksmanship and cold spells. Though Marshall’s assist rate remained high, the Lakers questioned his effectiveness on defense.
“I feel like I have a a lot to prove,” Marshall said. “For some reason, there’s always a reason why I’m successful or why I’m not successful. I need to put that doubt to rest and go out there and prove it.”
What does that entail?
“I think across the board. The main thing I want to prove is that I can win in this league,” Marshall said. “That’s the most important thing. I proved I can get playing time last year, but we still weren’t successful as a team. That means a lot to me.”
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