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July 06, 2006
A league of his own
How young is Andrew Bynum? Consider that the youngest player taken in the first round of last month’s (age-limited) draft was Joel Freeland, a center from England born Feb. 7, 1987.
Bynum was born Oct. 27, 1987, making him a full eight months and 20 days younger than the youngest player who went in the draft the year AFTER HIM. And Freeland was taken with the last pick of the first round by Portland.
So you can see how important the summer league season, which starts Saturday, is for Bynum. The chances for him to play are few and far between. I talked with him Thursday at the Lakers practice facility for a story in Friday’s paper.
It’s interesting that the Lakers always play down their expectations for Bynum, who only plays them up for himself. Kurt Rambis talked Thursday about Bynum being, in his words, ``a ways away’’ from having the strength necessary to play against older and stronger centers.
Bynum, on the other hand, said he wanted to play “15 to 20 minutes at least’’ per game next season. Keep in mind Kwame Brown was in the gym while he said this.
I’m not sure how good a test Bynum will get in summer league. The Lakers play Memphis four times and the Grizzlies have one player on their roster taller than 6-foot-9. But it will give Bynum the chance to show what he has learned.
Another interesting tidbit from Thursday: Bynum is going to take an online English class through the University of Phoenix. Maybe by the end of his career he’ll have his MBA just like Shaq.
* * *
Kwame Brown was working out Thursday, which is a good sign considering Mitch Kupchak twice mentioned at the exit meetings in May that Brown couldn’t afford to get away from the game over the summer.
Brown has been conditioning for the most part and said a nagging shoulder injury has been keeping him off the court. Laron Profit also was at the practice facility and said he will be cleared to play Friday in his comeback from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
* * *
There are a couple of players on the summer league roster worth mentioning in addition to Bynum. One is guard Devin Green, who went from being undrafted out of Hampton to making the team in training camp last season.
It all started for Green in summer league. The Lakers think that at 6-foot-7, 210 pounds, Green can be a tough defender against guards and small forwards. But he has to show he can shoot the ball as well.
Green went just 6 of 28 (21.4 percent) from the field last season. He played in only 27 games but never was sent to the Development League. The Lakers wouldn’t have kept him around if they didn’t see potential.
``I think he can turn himself into a good ballplayer,’’ Rambis said. ``But he, like Andrew, needs time out there playing.’’
The Lakers also have draft picks Jordan Farmar and J.R. Pinnock on the roster plus guard Von Wafer. Former second-round pick Marcus Douthit played in the D-League last season and averaged 10.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in 41 games with Albuquerque.
Douthit will see time at power forward opposite Bynum. The Lakers have had three players - - Tony Bobbitt, Smush Parker and Green - - who played their way onto the roster beginning at summer league.
The summer league roster...
NAME
POS
HT
WT
BIRTHDATE
SCHOOL
Andrew Bynum
C
7-0
275
10/27/87
St. Josephs (HS)
Marcus Douthit
F
6-11
233
5/15/80
Providence
Jordan Farmar
G
6-2
180
11/30/86
UCLA
Michael Fey
C
7-0
270
5/29/83
UCLA
Devin Green
G
6-7
210
10/25/82
Hampton
Nick Horvath
F
6-10
215
2/18/81
Duke
Nile Murry
G
6-4
208
1/26/83
TCU
Doron Perkins
G
6-2
200
5/6/83
Santa Clara
Danilo (JR) Pinnock
G
6-5
207
12/11/83
George Washington
Kasib Powell
F
6-7
215
3/18/81
Texas Tech
Byron Sanders
F
6-9
240
9/8/83
UNC
Marcus Slaughter
F
6-9
220
3/18/85
San Diego State
Von Wafer
G
6-5
210
7/21/85
Florida State
Posted by Ross Siler at July 6, 2006 06:51 PM