Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, right, looks to shoot as he is pressured by Sacramento Kings’ Ben McLemore during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

PHOENIX — Within a day’s span, the plan for Kobe Bryant already changed.

The Lakers are listing Bryant’s status to play in Wednesday’s game against New Orleans as questionable after the missing Tuesday’s practice on Tuesday at U.S. Airways Center. Bryant originally planned to squeeze in a light shooting session. Instead, he plans to meet the team at a Phoenix airport before flying to New Orleans on Wednesday. Bryant has missed eight of the past 15 games to preserve his 36-year-old body, including Tuesday’s 115-110 loss in Phoenix.

The Lakers’ fluid roster goes beyond Bryant’s playing status as they reel with a 12-30 mark, the NBA’s fourth-worst record.

The Lakers have ruled reserve rookie center Tarik Black out against New Orleans after spraining his right ankle against Phoenix. X-rays turned out negative, though it is currently unclear if Black will play in Friday’s game in San Antonio.

The Lakers also consider veteran guard Ronnie Price doubtful to play against the Pelicans after missing the past two games because of right elbow soreness. Price, however, completed a partial practice that entailed minimizing use of his right arm. Lakers forward Carlos Boozer missed Tuesday’s practice because of a left triceps contusion, but he is listed as probable to play against New Orleans.

RELATED:

Lakers’ Byron Scott still optimistic Steve Nash will mentor point guards

Kobe Bryant absent in Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-100 loss to Phoenix Suns as team prepares for future

Could Lakers land Phoenix’s Goran Dragic in free agent market?

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

PHOENIX — Lakers forward Tarik Black slowly walked out of the trainer’s room, the crutches in his hand and the rolled tape on his right ankle suggesting a serious injury.

Still, x-rays turned out negative after Black sprained his right ankle that caused him to leave with five minutes remaining of the Lakers’ 115-100 loss on Monday to the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. But could Black return quickly enough to play in Wednesday’s game in New Orleans?

“I can’t comment on that one,” said Black, who posted six points on two-of-three shooting and three rebounds in 21 minutes. “I don’t know. But miracles can happen. I rolled it pretty good, though.”

How Black rolled his ankle appears unclear. It seemed as if he fell on a teammates’ foot, believed to be Nick Young. But the Lakers’ eccentric forward vehemently denied that when Black asked him after a reporter suggested the incident happened.

Young scoffed, “I wasn’t even in the vicinity.” A playful Black then answered, “You got beef, homey? We can go get it.” Young countered, “Think about it, I was shooting the ball in the corner.”

Young then repeatedly referred Black to John Coffey from The Green Mile and suggested he could heal quickly with special powers.

“Stop talking to me bro,” Black said, playfully. “Or we’re going to get into it.”

Still, this incident already sours a Lakers’ roster reeling with injuries. Kobe Bryant sat the eighth of the past 15 games to rest his 36-year-old body. He will complete light shooting drills in Tuesday’s practice in Phoenix with hopes to play on Wednesday in New Orleans. The playing status also remains unclear for Lakers guard Ronnie Price, who missed the past two games with persistent soreness in his right elbow.

As for Black, this sours a promising start where he has averaged eight points on 66.7 percent shooting and 5.7 rebounds in 17.7 minutes through six games. The Lakers picked up off of waivers after the Houston Rockets parted ways with the rookie center to make room for Josh Smith.

“I don’t put pressure on myself,” Black said. “It happened. It is what it is. I can’t take it back. No point of worrying about it. I got to heal up, get better and get out there. My biggest thing is helping the team win.”

Black will nurse crutches to alleviate the pressure on his right ankle and prevent it from swelling. Black also downplayed the pain level. And he also expressed optimism in the Lakers’ training staff.

“It just hurt bad when it happened,” Black said. “But as far as the injury goes, I’ll be back soon. It’s just a matter of keeping the swelling down.”

RELATED:

Could Lakers land Phoenix’s Goran Dragic in free agent market?

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Ronnie Price to sit against Phoenix

Phoenix’s Goran Dragic on free agency, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash

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

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, in Los Angeles. Several athletes have worn “I Can’t Breathe” shirts during warm ups in support of the family of Eric Garner, who died July 17 after a police officer placed him in a chokehold when he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

PHOENIX –Lakers guards Kobe Bryant and Ronnie Price will sit out for the second consecutive game when the Lakers (12-29) visit the Phoenix Suns (24-18) on Monday at U.S. Airways Center.

Bryant will have missed eight of the past 15 games amid the Lakers’ recent quest to “preserve” the team’s 36-year-old star. He only played last week against Miami and Cleveland.

“Just trying to get his body to be not as sore and hurting,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “Like he said the other day, ‘it aches everywhere.’ It won’t be the point to where three or four or five days of rest means he will come back and feel great. But he feels good enough to come out and play against Cleveland. It’s about trying to preserve him as much as possible.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Ronnie Price to sit against Phoenix” »

Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic (1) is expected to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Could the Lakers be a possible landing destination for the Slovenian? (File photo/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Below is a recent interview with Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic, who talked with the Los Angeles Newspaper Group about his upcoming free agency, whether he’d consider the Lakers, Kobe Bryant and what he learned playing with Steve Nash. The Suns (24-18) host the Lakers (12-29) on Monday at U.S. Airways Center.

When this summer approaches and you become a free agent, what will influence your decision?

Dragic: “It’s going to be an interesting summer. I’m going to make one of the toughest decisions in my life. I’m going to sit down with my family and my agent and I’ll look at all the options. But I’m really happy here in Phoenix and they have given me everything that I have dreamed of, and this is obviously my first place when I came to the NBA. I feel like at home. But I’ll explore my options. It’s too soon to say something more because I want to be focused on this season.”

Even with the Lakers struggling, do you see them as an option considering their history and their cap flexibility?

Dragic: “It’s not just L.A. I think everybody. Any team in the league. I’m rare in this position. I’ve been working hard and I can explore my options. Back in Europe, there are bad teams financially and teams that aren’t organized. But every team in the NBA is a good organization. It’s going to be tough. But I won’t think about that until after the season.”

What would you think about playing with Kobe Bryant?

Dragic: Any player that is one of the best players in the league would be cool. Kobe, of course, he’s a legend. LeBron James. I played with Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Amare Stoudemire, and I know how awesome it is to be around those superstars. If you’re patient enough and you listen, you learn a lot. Of course, Kobe is one of those stars.

You’ve been quoted as dismissing the idea that free agents don’t want to play with Kobe is false. What’s your take on that?

Dragic: “I don’t read the media. But maybe some players had bad experience because they didn’t play well with the Lakers. But I don’t think that is the case.”
Continue reading “Phoenix’s Goran Dragic on free agency, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash” »

Lakers head coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant have not talked about shutting Bryant down for the season, but it continues to be a game-by-game approach to limit the superstar’s minutes. Friday, January 2, 2015. The Grizzlies beat the Lakers 109-106. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)”

Kobe Bryant got the attention of the sports world with his recent comments to columnist Bill Plaschke on Sunday when discussing the topic of retirement.

I’d be lying if I said that it hasn’t crossed my mind,” Bryant was quoted as saying.”Right now I doubt it…but anything’s possible.”

Bryant was at the Lakers practice facility on Sunday morning, but did not speak to media, leaving his head coach Byron Scott to provided reaction to the comments.

Continue reading “Byron Scott offers reaction to Kobe’s retirement comment; Bryant scheduled to travel but unsure if playing” »

SALT LAKE CITY — The Lakers still have over five months to wait before they revamp their roster with a coveted draft pick or a free agency acquisition.

But the franchise has already made moves to ensure continuity on their flagship cable station, Time Warner Cable Access SportsNet. The Lakers signed the team’s television play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald to a three-year extension, according to league sources familiar with the situation. The Lakers also anticipate finalizing an extension soon with television color analyst Stu Lantz.

Bleacher Report first reported this development.

Macdonald is in his fourth season as the Lakers’ television play-by-play announcer, his arrival at TWC Access SportsNet preceding his various radio and television broadcast duties both with play-by-play and pre and post-game shows with the Lakers, Angels and Ducks on Fox Sports West. The four-time local EMMY winner had called play-by-play for UCLA men’s basketball and football and the Los Angeles Avenders. Macdonald also called Kobe Bryant’s career-high 81-point game performance on Jan. 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors on Staples Center.

Lantz is in his 28th season with the Lakers, 15 of those years working with noted former Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn. The Southern California Sports Broadcaster’s Association voted Lantz as the best radio color commentator in Southern California six times and the best television color commentator seven times. He also won seven local EMMY awards in the Best Live Sports Telecast category.

RELATED:

Stu Lantz returns to broadcast team after two-game absence

Kobe can only do so much against LeBron as Lakers lose to Cavaliers

Lakers sticking to plan, not thinking about shutting down Kobe Bryant

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

Photos from the Los Angeles Lakers matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kobe Bryant had 19 points and a career-high 17 assists, but LeBron James scored 36 points to lead Cleveland to a 109-102 victory.