ESPN.com presents Lakers http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers 60 en-us Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:21:39 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 When word began to circulate Saturday that the Clippers have weighed offering Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe to their Staples Center co-tenants for Dwight Howard in a potential sign-and-trade swap after July 1, that naturally made folks wonder where the Lakers stand in their quest to re-sign Howard when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Here's the latest: • The Lakers have had several discussions with Howard's representatives over the past few weeks and remain confident that they will ultimately keep him with the franchise, even as he's made it clear he will entertain other suitors.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36753/latest-on-what-lakers-will-do-with-dwight Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:54:31 EDT 36753 Chris Paul and Dwight Howard have been in consistent contact recently about the possibility of becoming teammates next season, according to league sources. Paul and Howard will be the biggest free agents on the market this summer, and their desire is to play together, the sources said. "They would love to play together if somebody can make it happen," one of the sources said. Full story here.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36750/cp3-dwight-howard-teammates Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:28:01 EDT 36750 LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant is still months away from returning to the court, but Los Angeles Lakers fans itching to see him up close and personal again will get their chance this summer. Bryant will sit down with late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for a one-night-only event at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on Aug. 15. The event, titled, "Kobe Up Close," will give fans an opportunity to watch a one-on-one interview live on stage with the proceeds from the event benefiting the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Foundation and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Sports Spectacular.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36748/kimmel-to-interview-kobe-at-nokia-theatre Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:10:23 EDT 36748 It has been nearly 20 years since Magic Johnson coached the Los Angeles Lakers for 16 games in the 1993-94 season*, but the Hall of Famer's opinions about his former franchise are as strong as ever. Johnson, an analyst for ESPN appearing on KIA NBA Countdown during the NBA Finals, was on a conference call Wednesday with reporters to discuss the Finals and not surprisingly, the subject of the Lakers came up. Below is a transcript of Johnson's latest thoughts on the purple and gold: Q: What do you think of Dwight Howard, what is best for him?]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36737/magic-weighs-in-on-howard-dantoni Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:26:50 EDT 36737 LOS ANGELES -- Anyone who watched Metta World Peace's epic press conference following Game 7 of the 2010 Finals knows just how entertaining the man can be with a microphone a TV cameras in front of him. Now a few years later, with his NBA future up in the air, the Los Angeles Lakers forward is testing out what it would be like to transition to a broadcasting career once his playing days are done. World Peace has embarked on a media whirlwind this summer, using the exposure on the likes of ESPN's "SportsNation," ESPN LA 710 radio's "Max & Marcellus Show," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36728/metta-world-peace-broadcaste Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:44:50 EDT 36728 The Kobe Bryant memorabilia saga has ended with an apology from the Los Angeles Lakers guard's parents and a settlement that allows less than 10 percent of the items originally intended for sale to be auctioned. Bryant and a company that was auctioning off the memorabilia reached a deal one week before the two sides were due to go to trial in New Jersey. The agreement allows the sale of six items, which Goldin Auctions president Ken Goldin told ESPN.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36724/deal-reached-in-kobe-bryant-case Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:59:26 EDT 36724 Julius Erving said Wednesday that the Philadelphia 76ers received "damaged goods" when they acquired center Andrew Bynum. Erving, speaking in Philadelphia before the premiere of "The Doctor," a documentary on his life, said teams always have to be wary when dealing with teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, who rarely get the short end of trades. Full story »]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36722/dr-j-hard-to-deal-with-lakers Fri, 7 Jun 2013 15:48:45 EDT 36722 Kobe Bryant shuffled into a conference room on the second floor of the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility Monday with crutches under his arm and special Nike "Medical Mambas" on his feet and sat down for a near 30-minute interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com. The discussion included a wide range of topics, including Bryant's thoughts on his rehab, Dwight Howard and Phil Jackson comparing him to Michael Jordan that have already been covered on the site.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36713/kobe-bryant-interview-the-best-of-the-rest Tue, 4 Jun 2013 11:16:22 EDT 36713 EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Stitches removed, out of a cast and with nearly six weeks of rehabilitation under his belt since surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg, Kobe Bryant is still hoping for a return by the Los Angeles Lakers' 2013-14 season opener. "I hope so," Bryant said in a sit-down interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com on Monday. "That's the challenge. With the tendon, there's really only but so much you can do. There's a certain amount of time that they deem necessary for the tendon to heal where you don't overstretch it and now you never get that spring back.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36710/kobe-aims-to-play-in-opener Tue, 4 Jun 2013 06:19:49 EDT 36710 Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson joined Mark Willard and Mychal Thompson on 710 ESPN on Thursday to discuss his new book, his coaching prospects and how his relationship with Lakers executive Jeanie Buss has affected his job opportunities. Listen to the full podcast here.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/36707/phil-jackson-on-lakers-coaching-prospects Thu, 30 May 2013 15:34:42 EDT 36707