Lakers offer of Lamar Odom for No. 2 pick in NBA draft rejected by Timberwolves

The Lakers tried to move up in Thursday’s NBA draft by offering forward Lamar Odom to Minnesota for the Timberwolves’ No. 2 overall pick, but Minnesota turned them down, according to two NBA officials who were not authorized to speak publicly about the trade talks.

The Lakers wanted to use the No. 2 pick to select Arizona’s forward Derrick Williams, the officials said.

However, Minnesota didn’t want Odom, the NBA’s sixth man of the year last season, because the Timberwolves have Kevin Love at power forward and see him as part of the franchise’s cornerstone.

Instead, Minnesota asked the Lakers for eitherAndrew Bynum or Pau Gasol — two players the Lakers were not going to trade — for the No. 2 draft pick. Talks broke down and the teams aren’t talking anymore about a deal, the officials said.

The Lakers don’t have a first-round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft; their second-round draft picks are Nos. 41, 46, 56 and 58.

Source: Lakers hire Ettore Messina

Italian coach Ettore Messina has agreed to join Mike Brown’s coaching staff with the Los Angeles Lakers, a source familiar with the negotiations said.

Messina will be listed as an assistant coach but will be behind the bench, not on it, and will serve in more of a consulting capacity, sources said.

Brown developed a relationship with Messina when he was head coach of the Cavaliers and Messina was the head coach of CSKA Moscow. Brown routinely flew to Italy, where Messina held CSKA’s training camps, to pick up new ideas to use with the Cavs.

(source)

nbaoffseason:

Shannon back in LA, signing for 2-years at 4.6 million. 

“Shannon could have made more money somewhere else, but I think he really wanted to play this out with the Lakers,” Bartelstein said. “They’ve won it [all] two years in a row and the chance to win three straight [championships] doesn’t come around every day.”

Maybe Shannon could have made more, but the Lake Show is breaking the bank to get #3.

(brainworks)

And Lakers Nation rejoices.

Source: Phil Jackson signs new deal

Phil Jackson has officially signed a contract to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 11-time NBA champion coach announced on July 1 that he would return for what he called “the last stand for me” but it took until last week to finalize a new contract, according to a source close to the situation.

Terms of Jackson’s new contract have not been released. A message left for his agent Todd Musburger Monday evening was not returned.

With Jackson’s deal finally in place, the Lakers were able to quickly reach agreements with the rest of his staff. Longtime assistants Brian Shaw, Frank Hamblen and Jim Cleamons are returning and special assistant Chuck Person has officially been added to the staff.

Bynum knee surgery a success

Key points: 

• The surgery was performed in New York by Dr. David Altchek, who has operated on Bynum’s knee in the past.
• Bynum’s third knee surgery in the past three years.
• Expected to make a full recovery by the start of the regular season in late October.
• Will not be participating in any dodgeball games with Ron Artest.

First look at Matt Barnes in a Laker jersey …

he also helps us reach our tattoo threshold.

nbaoffseason:

Matt Barnes is officially a Los Angeles Laker and clearly not a fan of Nick Van Exel.

Fun Fact: Barnes, a California native has now played for every professional team in California.