NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: No Immediate Signing for Lakers
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated30 Oct 2023
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The Los Angeles Lakers, I'm hearing, aren't making immediate moves after holding free agent workouts.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) November 22, 2014
Our own David Pick reported this, and several league sources confirmed that it’s unlikely the Lakers will sign a free agent right now because they want to see what they have after winning two of three games.
The Lakers recently made headlines when they worked out free agents such as Quincy Miller, Tyrus Thomas, Gal Mekel, Dwight Buycks and Jordan Hamilton.
But remember, in order for the Lakers to sign one of the players they looked at, they’d have to waive someone on their roster, and it doesn’t seem like they’re ready to do that at this very moment.
That could obviously change if the Lakers start to struggle again or if the team clearly has a hole that needs to be filled. But for now, it seems like L.A. was just doing some due diligence and working out some of the top free agents just in case a move needs to be made, not because one is inevitable.
The Timberwolves president and coach worked the phones as dawn approached, talking with agents and searching for a player who might help replace Kevin Martin, who joined an injured list that includes Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic and Ronny Turiaf.
[Flip] Saunders said the team is talking to agents and looking through Development League prospects for potential help.“We’re going to have to wait and see if we can bring somebody in who we think is going to be serviceable and can help,” he said.
Minnesota has dealt with injury after injury this season and while Flip Saunders chose not to add any new players until now, Kevin Martin’s injury may force his hand. Martin will likely be out for at least six weeks due to his broken wrist.
Zgoda reports that the Wolves may not petition the NBA for a disabled player exception that would allow them to sign a player without having to waive one, because it would require the team to make three players inactive for the next 10 days.
While Martin and Rubio will definitely be out for that span and then some, Saunders is hoping Pekovic or Turiaf will be ready to play before that.
“I don’t think there’s anybody as good as Pekovic out there right now,” Saunders told Zgoda. “Guys who aren’t playing in our league, there’s probably a reason.”
For the list of the top free agents currently available, click here.
While [Paul] George says he remains hopeful of a return late this season, coach Frank Vogel calls it “very unlikely.”
Paul George has been sidelined since the gruesome leg injury that occurred over the summer during a Team USA scrimmage and while the All-Star forward is still hopeful he can make a comeback this season, his head coach Frank Vogel is being more realistic about his return date.
There is no reason for George to rush back this season, since Indiana isn’t in any shape to contend and they may even be out of the playoff race by the time George is ready to even think about playing.
The last thing Indiana needs is for George to get injured again, which could limit them next season as well.
George is working hard and, like any player would, wants to get back on the court as soon as possible. However, it seems unlikely that we’ll see him playing until the 2015-16 season.
