LA Lakers News Archive:

This is the Lakers Universe news archive. For the current news please click here.

 

Los Angeles Lakers 2011-2012 news:

Dec 9: The NBA vetoed a 3-team trade that would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers. The NBA (owner of the Hornets) said it was for "basketball reasons" but it was clear they didn't want the L.A. to acquire another big star. In that trade the Lakers would have sent Pau Gasol (the man who help them reach 3 NBA Finals in 4 years) to the Rockets and Lamar Odom to New Orleans

 

Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2011 news:

5/13: Kobe Bryant was named to the NBA's All-NBA first team for the 9th time. Pau Gasol was selected for the second team.

5/6: Kobe Bryant was named to theNBA's All-Defensive first team for an NBA record 9th time.

 

Los Angeles Lakers 2009-2010 news:

7/9: As expected Kobe Bryant won play for USA Basketball in the 2010 World Championship, in an attempt to recover from the many injuries he suffered in the 2010 NBA season.

7/3: Phil Jackson said he will be the Lakers coach in the 2009-10 NBA season.

4/13: the Lakers will face Kevin Durant and his Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2010 Playoffs.

4/2: Kobe Bryant signed a 3-year, $84-million contract extension to remain a Laker until the end of the 2013-14 NBA season. This the Lakers have have a core group of Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, Artest and Odom under contract for at least the next 3 seasons

3/24: Kobe Bryant passed Alex English for 12th in the NBA all-time scoring list.

2/24: Kobe had 20 points against Dallas and passed Reggie Miller for 13th in the NBA all-time scoring list.

2/1: With his 44 points at Memphis, Kobe Bryant reached the 25,208 mark, surpassing Jerry West's 25,192 and became the Lakers all-time scoring leader. He is also 14th in NBA history.

1/21: Kobe Bryant was selected as a starter for the 2010 All-Star Game. It will be Kobe's 12th All-Star appearance. Pau Gasol was selected as a reserve.

1/16: Kobe Bryant has new signature shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe V (5). We have a picture gallery we tell you where to buy the shoes online.

12/20: Pau Gasol agreed to a 3-year contract extension that could be worth up to $64.7 million and would keep him in L.A. until the end of the 2013-14 season.

11/17: Kobe Bryant became the 3rd player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in 100 games.

10/8: In their first preseason game the Lakers defeated the Warriors 118-101.

8/11: Pau Gasol had surgery after breaking the middle finger of his left hand during a practice with the Spanish national team. He was preparing for the European Championships and will be sidelined for 3 weeks.

8/10: Phil Jackson's assistant coach and former Showtime player Kurt Rambis agreed to become the head coach of the Timberwolves.

8/5: The NBA released the Lakers 2009-2010 schedule. One of the highlights of the season will be Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol vs. Lebron James and Shaquille O'Neal on Dec. 25 when the defending champion host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

7/31: Lamar Odom and the Lakers finally agreed to a 4-year $33 million contract with a team option for the final year. The team waived guard from China Sun Yue.

7/23: The Los Angeles Lakers have restarted contract negotiations with free-agent forward Lamar Odom. According to sources the talks are productive but nothing is imminent. The Lakers are not believed to have improved the offers they retracted last week.

Lakers 2009 NBA Championship DVD7/15: The Lakers 2009 NBA Championship DVD is on the streets. It includes. This documentary showcases the highlights from the championship season including great plays from the season and everything about the 2009 Playoffs.

7/15: Tired of waiting for an answer the Lakers decided to pull their offer to Lamar Odom. More than a week ago the team owner Jerry Buss offered Odom's agent two deals of 4 years at $9 million a season for a total of $36 million or 3 years at $10 million for a total of $30 million, but Odom did not respond and his agent has been talking with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. Many believe that Odom wants to accept Buss' offer but he has failed to convince his agent.

6/26: The Lakers sold their first round-pick to the Knicks and a second-round pick to the Heat..

 

Los Angeles Lakers 2008-2009 news:

5/13: Kobe Bryant was named to the NBA's All-NBA first team for the seventh time. Pau Gasol was selected for the third team becoming the first Laker other than Kobe and Shaq on those teams since 1991.

5/6: Kobe Bryant was named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team for the seventh time.

4/9: Andrew Bynum returned after missing 32 games

4/3: The Lakers, who have already secured the number 1 seed in the Western Conference for the 2009 Playoffs, have also reached the 60-win mark for the 11th time in franchise history.

3/6: With a victory over the Timberwolves the Lakers became the first team this season to reach 50 wins. With 20 games left in their schedule, L.A. holds the best record in the league at 50-12. Kobe Bryant, who scored 23, passed Robert Parish for 18th on the NBA's all-time career scoring list with 23,354 points.

2/18: Chris Mihm was traded to Memphis for a 2013 2nd-round draft pick.

2/10: Kobe Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 23,000-point. He did it being 30 years, 171 days old, 5 days younger than Wilt Chamberlain.

2/15: Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal not only were in the same team once again but they also shared the MVP trophy in the 2009 All-Star Game. The lead the West to a 146-119 victory.

2/8: The Lakers sent Vladimir Radmanovic to the Charlotte Bobcats in a trade for a pair of young players-- forward Adam Morrison and guard Shannon Brown.

2/2: Andrew Bynum will be out for 8 to 12 weeks with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

1/29: Kobe Bryant will be a starter for the West in the 2009 All-Star Game. Pau Gasol will join him as a reserve.

1/21: The Lakers have the best half-season record (33-8) in the Western Conference meaning Phil Jackson will coach the West team at the All-Star Game on Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

new Kobe Bryant signature shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 411/25: Kobe Bryant new signature shoes will hit the streets in January 2009 but we have a picture gallery of the new Nike Zoom Kobe IV (or 4).

10/30: Andrew Bynum signed a 4-year contract extension for $57.4 million and will be a Laker until 2012-13.

Offseason moves: Center D.J. Mbenga signed a one-year contract. / The Lakers agreed to terms with Chinese player Sun Yue. / in the 2008 NBA Draft the Lakers selected Joe Crawford with the 58th pick. / Sasha Vujacic agreed to a three-year, 15-million deal to stay in L.A. / As a free agent Ronny Turiaf signed an offer sheet with the Warriors for about $17 million over 4 years. / The Lakers Lakers exercised a 4th year contract option for the 2009-10 season on Jordan Farmar.

9/10: Kobe decided he won't have surgery on his injured finger.

8/5: The NBA released the Lakers 2008-09 schedule

 

9/26: Sun Yue has mononucleosis which could require several weeks of recovery.

9/25: Center D.J. Mbenga signed a one-year contract.

8/27: The team signed second round pick Joe Crawford.

9/10: Kobe decided he won't have surgery on his injured finger.

8/24: Kobe Bryant led the USA Basketball team to the Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing 2008.

8/8: The Lakers ageed to terms with Chinese player Sun Yue.

8/5: The NBA released the Lakers 2008-09 schedule. The Lakers will face the Celtics on Christmas Day.

7/26: Sasha Vujacic agreed to a three-year, 15-million deal to stay in L.A.

New Kobe Bryant shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 37/25: Kobe Bryant has new shoes for the 2008 Olympic Games: Nike Hyperdunk. More Info. / Picture gallery.

7/18: As a free agent Ronny Turiaf signed an offer sheet with the Warriors for about $17 million over 4 years.

7/14: Rumors include a trade that could sent Odom to the Kings in exchage for Ron Artest.

7/30: Offseason moves: in the 2008 NBA Draft the Lakers selected Joe Crawford with the 58th pick.

Los Angeles Lakers 2007-2008 news:

5/12: Kobe Bryant was selected for the NBA 2008 All-Defensive First Team. It is his 8th selection, the 6th for the First Team

Kobe Bryant MVP5/9: Kobe Bryant was unanimously selected for the All-NBA First Team. It is his 10th All-NBA selection, the 6th for the first team.

5/6: Kobe Bryant won his first Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the only the 4th Laker NBA history to earn the MVP.

4/19: Andrew Bynum won't be ready for the Lakers-Nuggets series.

3/20: Playing without Pau Gasol, the Lakers ended their 4-game trip with a 2-2 record, their final game was a big win a Utah.

3/20: Andrew Bynum would be ready before the end of the season but Trevor Ariza wouldn't be able to play a first round in the Playoffs.

2/17: Forced by league rules to play in the All-Star Game, Kobe stayed in the court the first 3 minutes before sitting out for good. Jordan Farmar had 17 points and game highs with 12 assists and 4 steals in the rookie-sophomore All-Star challenge.

2/15: Kobe Bryant was diagnosed with a torn ligament in the pinkie of his right hand, but he wants to delay the surgery until the end of the Olympic Games.

2/2: The Lakers brought Spanish center Pau Gasol in a trade for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton.

1/24: Kobe Bryant will be a starter in the 2008 All-Star Game.

1/20: Andrew Bynum's injury will sideline him for another 7 weeks. Trevor Ariza broke a bone in his foot and will be out 8 weeks.

1/4: The win over the 76ers game Phil Jackson his 939th career coaching victory, the one he needed to surpass Celtics legend Red Auerbach for seventh all-time.

Previous 2007 news:

12/23: Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points.

11/20: A trade with the Magic sent Brian Cook and Maurice Evans to Orlando in exchange for forward Trevor Ariza.

New Kobe Bryant shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 311/3: Kobe Bryant new shoes are ready, you can take a look at the pictures to see how his new sneakers look like.

10/2: Against some speculations, Kobe Bryant joined the team for training camp.

9/7: Phil Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Lakers seasonOffseason moves: Derek Fisher will play for the Lakers the next 3 seasons. / Chris Mihm and Luke Walton accepted offers to stay in Los Angeles.

again....

 

 

2006/2007 news:

6/25: The L.A. Times reported the Lakers are working on a 4-team trade that would bring Kevin Garnett and send Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum away.

5/30: In the same day Kobe Bryant went on air to say he was frustrated and wanted to be traded, then retracted and then said it again....

5/10: Kobe Bryant was selected for the 2006-07 All-NBA first team and for the NBA All-Defensive first team.

4/18: Kobe won his second scoring title with averaging 31.6 ppg.

New Kobe Bryant shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe II (2)4/6: Kobe Bryant has new shoes. The Air Zoom Kobe I are his first signature shoes made by Nike.

4/2: Lakers coach Phil Jackson was selected to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

2/20: To continue the Lakers bad streak of injuries Vladimir Radmanovic is out 8 weeks because of a separated right shoulder.

2/19: Kobe Bryant was selected MVP of the NBA All-Star Game. He earned his second MVP with 31 points, 6 assists and 6 steals.

2/15: Kobe Bryant will be the only Laker in the All-Star Game.

1/26: Kobe Bryant become the youngest player to reach 18.000 points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.

1/7: With a victory over Dallas, Phil Jackson became the ninth coach to win 900 NBA games.

Previous 2006 news:

12/13: Lamar Odom will be sidelined from 4 to 8 weeks with a sprained knee ligament.

11/10: Chris Mihm will undergo ankle surgery and will sit out the rest of the regular season...

10/30: To trim the roster to 15 players, the Lakers waived Von Wafer, Devin Green and rookie J.R. Pinnock.

10/26: Phil Jackson is back and he will have to trim the roster to 15 players by Monday. Pinnock, Green and Von Wafer are the top candidates to leave.

10/23: With Brown and Mihm out for the start of the season, the Lakers will have to start Andrew Bynum at center.

10/3: Phil Jackson underwent hip replacement surgery. He's expected to be back full-time before the Lakers 1st game (Oct. 31)

8/2: Devean George, a free agent, signed a two-year $4.2 million contract with Dallas.

7/20: The Lakers re-hired assistant coach Jim Cleamons, one of Jackson's favorites.

7/17: Kobe Bryant underwent minor knee surgery to clean out scar tissue and loose cartilage and will be out at least 8 weeks.

7/13: The Lakers possible starting lineup for the 2006/2007 season could be Kobe Bryant and Smush Parker in the backcourt, Radmanovic and Odom at forward, and Kwame Brown at center.

7/13: The Lakers signed Vladimir Radmanovic to a 5-year, $31.7 million contract

6/28: In the 2006 NBA Draft the Lakers selected guard Jordan Farmar with the 26th pick.

6/21: Former Laker Shaquille O'Neal won his 4th NBA Championship, the 1st with the Miami Heat.

5/17: Kobe, Shaq, Nowitzki, Nash and Lebron James are the 2006 All-NBA First Team. Kobe also made the All-Defensive Team.

5/11: Kobe will wear the jersey number 24 next season.

4/19: Kobe Bryant won his first scoring title with an average of 35.4 points. He became the 4th player in NBA history to average more than 35 and the 5th in Lakers history to lead the league in scoring.

4/19: Kobe Bryant ended the season with a total of 27 games of 40 or more points, breaking the franchise record of 23 set by Baylor in 1963.

4/14: With his 50 points Kobe Bryant reached 2,754 and broke the franchise record of 2,719 points in one season set by Baylor in 1962-63

3/6: The Lakers signed Jim Jackson and waived injured forward Slava Medvedenko.

2/27: Kobe Bryant will be the centerpiece of the new USA Basketball Team. Kobe and the others that accepted the invitation, made a commitment until the 2008 Olympic Games.

2/19: Kobe Bryant had a good performance in the 2006 All-Star Game with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals. His last 4 points tied the game at 120 but Tracy Mcgrady (36 points) missed the potentialy winning 3-pointer and the East won 122-120. Lebron James was the MVP.

Nike Air Zoom Kobe 12/8: Kobe Bryant has new shoes. The Air Zoom Kobe I will be his first signature shoes made by Nike.

2/2: Kobe Bryant will be an All-Star for the 8th consecutive time. He was the second most voted behind Yao Ming. West: Yao, Kobe, Duncan, McGrady and Nash. East: Lebron, Shaq, Iverson, Wade and Jermaine O'Neal.

1/22: Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, his career-high and the second-best in NBA history.

1/18: The Lakers waived injured Laron Profit and signed Ronnie Turiaf, who is fully recovered from his open heart surgery.

1/13: Turiaf will join the team by Monday. The Lakers must waive a player, probably L. Profit.

1/12: Medvedenko have surgery to repair a herniated disk and is not expected to play again this season.

1/5: Slava Medvedenko will have surgery to repair a herniated disk and may be lost for the season increasing Turiaf possibilities to be a Laker.

Los Angeles Lakers 2005 news archive:

12/21: Ronny Turiaf was cleared to play by Lakrs doctors. He will play with the Sun Kings of the CBA to complete his rehabilitation.

12/20: Laron Profit suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon and probably will be out for the season.

12/16: The Lakers are testing Ronny Turiaf to see if he is able to play this season.

11/20: Kwame Brown will be sidelined for up to two weeks because of a strained hamstring.

10/31: Lakers preseason ended Friday with a 105-103 victory over the Kings. The Lakers will start their season Wednesday at Denver.

10/28: Tony Bobbitt was waived. Devin Green, Laron Profit and Von Wafer are fighting for the final roster spot.

10/27: The Lakers traded Jumaine Jones to the Bobcats for a second-round draft pick in 2007.

10/25: The Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 95-85 in another preseason game.

10/21: The Lakers defeated the Bobcats twice over the weekend in preseaon games. 109-93 and 98-97.

10/20: The Lakers waived Will Conroy.

10/19: Divac will be a Laker scout in Europe.

10/18: In their 3rd preseason game the Lakers defeated the Wizards 111-108.

10/11: This is the possible starting line up of the 2005-06 Lakers: Odom, Walton, Bryant , Brown and Mihm.

10/4: The Lakers bought out Divac's contract so the player who has not completely healed from his injuries can retire from basketball.

10/5: The Lakers signed Corie Blount.

10/4: Divac and the Lakers postponed a decision about the Vlade's future until Oct 21.

9/2: The Lakers hired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as assistant to work with the big men, specially with rookie Andrew Bynum.

8/22: The Lakers have a new starting point guard, Aaron McKie. He was released by the 76ers and agreed to 2 years and $5 million... With a short list of big men to choose from to spend the $2.5 million remaining, the return of Vlade Divac sounds as a good possibility.

8/18: The Lakers are in negotiations with point guards Derek Anderson and Aaron McKie. Both were released by their teams (Blazers and 76ers) with the amnesty clause. McKie seems to be Jackson's favorite... Rumors include...

8/11: The Lakers waived Brian Grant under the NBA's one-time amnesty provision.

8/9: The NBA released its 2005-06 schedule. The Lakers 1st game is on Nov 2 in Denver, and on Dec 25 they will face Shaq's Heat in Miami.

8/5: The Lakers need a point guard and are interested in Derek Anderson who was waived by the Trail Blazers.

8/3: The Lakers officially traded Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins for Wizards' Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. They also signed Phoenix guard William "Smush" Parker to a 1-year contract.

8/1: Kobe has his own Nike logo... Pictures..

7/28: Laker Ronny Turiaf underwent successful open-heart surgery Tuesday. It was a six-hour procedure to repair an enlarged aortic root. His aortic valve was functioning normally and did not need to be replaced. Turiaf won't be able to play basketball for a year at least.

7/25: Turiaf will have surgery Tuesday.

7/22: Ronny Turiaf, one of the Lakers second round picks, was diagnosed with an enlarged aortic, a serious heart problem, and will have to undergo open-heart surgery. It won't allow him to play at the very least for a year but doctors say it is good it was found on time because it could have taken his life.

7/20: Now without Chucky Atkins the Lakers need a point guard. Antonio Daniels was discarded because he wants a long term deal but the Lakers want to be under the salary cap for the free-agency period in the summer of 2007 when big free agents like Amare Stoudemire and Yao Ming will be available. Other free-agent point guards include Dan Dickau, Brevin Knight, Tyronn Lue, Jeff McInnis and Earl Watson...

7/15: Vlade Divac retired after 16 seasons.

7/15: The deal is done, the Lakers will trade Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins for Wizards forward/center Kwame Brown.

7/14: In a trade that leaves fans with their mouths open, the Lakers would bring forward-center Kwame Brown from the Wizards and would send Caron Butler and likely Chucky Atkins to Washington. The Lakers need help in the frontcourt , that's why the former no.1 pick, 6-11 Brown is coming to LA. Butler was one of the most consistent players at the end of last season, but he will be a free agent next year.

7/13: Everybody is talking about a trade with the Wizards involving Caron Butler and former No 1 overall pick Kwame Brown. The Lakers need help in the frontcourt and the 6-11 Brown looks good in Jackson's plans.

7/6: Phil Jackson's coaching staff will include Frank Hamblen and Kurt Rambis. Candidates for the other 2 spots are Brian Shaw and Scottie Pippen. Tex Winter will be a consultant.

7/4: The Lakers and Vlade Divac have agreed to postpone a decision on Divac's future until the training camp. Divac has said he will retire if he doesn't return to the Lakers...
6/30: Who's coming? Rumors include free agents Donyell Marshall and Antonio Daniels. Theo Ratliff, Allan Houston and Doug Christie are also being considered.

- 6/28: In the 2005 Draft the Lakers took Andrew Bynum, a high-school prodigy surprisingly still available for the 10th pick that became the youngest player ever drafted. The 6-11 center raise comparisons with Shaq, but he said he will try to reinstall in the NBA the Abdul-Jabbar sky hook and that "I can hit my free throws".

- 6/28: Although the Lakers have 3 picks in today's draft (10th in the 1st round, 7th and 9th in the 2nd) GM Kupchak doesn't expect a player that makes an immediate impact. The Lakers will try to fill holes in the post and at point guard.

- 6/15: Forget about the NBA Finals, these are the real news: Phil Jackson is the Laker coach again.
With a 3-year $30 million contract Jackson will be the best-paid coach ever.
Kobe Bryant called to congratulate him and told the media the hiring is something he supports.
Jackson said the team is going to run more without Shaq in the offense and that he expects Odom to take the role Scottie Pippen had in the Bulls of Michael Jordan.
Jackson has won 9 NBA championships, including 3 with the Lakers and 6 with the Bulls, has the best regular-season winning percentage (.725) and the best postseason winning percentage (.717) in NBA history. He also leads the league in Playoff victories (175). He led the Lakers to 4 NBA finals in 5 years...

- 6/6: Shaquille O'Neal won't be in the Finals without the Lakers. Miami Heat lost game 7 and the Pistons will be defending their title against the Spurs.

- 6/2: George Mikan died at 80. He was the first NBA superstar and led the Minneapolis Lakers to 5 Championships. He was being treated for diabetes and kidney failure.

- 6/1: Phil Jackson is about to decide if he wants to return to coach the Lakers.

- 5/24: the draft lottery didn't change the Lakers pick, it will be the 10th, the same one the Lakers used in 1994 to select Eddie Jones.

- 5/23: There's no new coach yet but Phil Jackson continues at the top of the list.

- 4/19: Odom underwent shoulder surgery and won't be able to train for 4 months.

- 4/5: the Lakers will miss the playoffs for the 1st time in 11 years.

- 2/18: Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw were added to the Lakers coaching staff.

- 2/13: Kobe Bryant returned after missing 14 games. The Lakers went 6-8 without him.
- 2/13: Malone announced his retirement.

- 2/2: Tomjanovich resigned because of health issues and the new coach could be the old coach: Phil Jackson . Meanwhile assistant Frank Hamblen will be leading the Lakers.

- 1/6: Divac had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back and won't return until April.

 

2004:

- 12/25: Shaq visited LA for the 1st time. Kobe won the match-up but the Heat got the victory.

2004 Player movements:

- Kobe Bryant decided to stay with the Lakers and signed a 7-year contract...

- Rudy Tomjanovich is the new coach...

- Shaquille O'Neal wanted to be traded and was sent to Miami in exchange for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant...

- Gary Payton and Rick Fox were traded to Boston in exchange for Chris Mihm, Jumaine Jones and Chucky Atkins... Fox retired, after 13 NBA seasons, because of injuries.

- Vlade Divac is a Laker again, but he injured his back and will be out at least the first month...

- Karl Malone is not retiring and he will stay in L.A. but he won't play until he is 100% healthy.

- The Lakers finished the preseason 6-2