The LA Lakers introduced Jeremy Lin this week and now the team can continue working in signing players and adding a head coach and while rumors about Byron Scott are out there, the team could wait to see if Doc Rivers is available, but that's not happening, as Scott was offered the head coaching job and now the sides are negotiating, while Los Angeles also could pull a Steve Nash trade this season if Lin can handle the starting PG job for Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers got Lin in a deal with Houston and he said that he is happy to be in Los Angeles after dealing with constant trade rumors with the Rockets and he has the chance to be the starting point guard this season. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Lakers considered making a sign and trade deal with Bledsoe, but they realized that the Suns likely would match the deal and that would hinder the Lakers from making other moves that they needed to make, including filling out the roster.
The team opted to sign back a group of players along with bidding on Carlos Boozer, including adding Xavier Henry, Ryan Kelly and Wesley Johnson. The team waived Kendall Marshall to help make room for those moves and they were hoping to sign him back if he cleared waivers, but the Milwaukee Bucks claimed him to thwart their plans. The team has some more moves they can make and names like Greg Oden or Andrew Bynum could be targets.
According to ESPN.com and PBT, the Lakers came up in a rumor about Doc Rivers as a possible head coaching candidate, as the team could wait and see whether he decides to bounce from the Clippers if Donald Sterling remains owner. The story did not have real legs, but then Rivers and Chris Paul came out to say they may boycott if Sterling remains the owner of the franchise. While that doesn't mean the Lakers are hiring Rivers, it sure adds an interesting nugget to the mix.
Lin comes in and should take over as the starter and this comes as a Steve Nash trade has been a possibility since last season, but right now the Lakers are fine with keeping him. Lin did not get a chance to really get a hold of things in Houston, as the team liked Patrick Beverley and constantly was trading to trade him, but now he is in LA and he said he is excited to play and feels that he is more of a complete player now. The Lakers were a mess last season and they need to improve on both sides of the court, especially on defense.
The Lakers come into the season after being terrible last year and now they have the chance to at least compete for a playoff spot if Bryant is healthy. Scott is the main coaching target apart from the whole dream of Rivers thing and the Lakers see that as a solid option after the disaster of the last season. The team now has Bryant coming back along with a young big in Julius Randle and while the team likely won't be winning championships, they should at least be able to compete for a playoff spot in the west.
