Lakers

Leonard last played in January 2021, at which point he had season-ending shoulder and ankle surgeries. He has been sidelined for almost two years and recently ...

Making sense of the league’s scoring boom](https://theathletic.com/4069128/2023/01/09/making-sense-nba-scoring-boom/) If either center impresses, the Lakers can use a 10-day contract to sign them and test them out. [Thomas Bryant](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/thomas-bryant-dq4B2s0HiwRTR3cB/) and [Wenyen Gabriel](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/wenyen-gabriel-r8zgk7urDgmH0hNc/), which has left them thin up front in certain games. Leonard (39.0 percent career 3-point shooter) can both pick-and-pop and spot up beyond the arc. Leonard and Cousins, both of whom Los Angeles will work out on Friday, address needs as stretch-5s that can soak up minutes in the paint. - Leonard was suspended for one week and fined $50,000 in March 2021 after using an anti-Semitic slur on a live stream.

The Lakers are interested in adding a center to support Anthony Davis and Thomas Bryant.

[ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/lebron-james-record-tracker-how-far-is-he-from-kareem-abdul-jabbar) [ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/nba-stock-watch-l-a-teams-headed-in-different-directions) [ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/nba-trade-rumors-tracker) [ National Basketball Association](/stories/nba/jimmy-butler-heat-set-nba-free-throw-record-beat-okc-112-111) [Sterling Brown](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/sterling-brown-player), who played for the [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/dallas-mavericks-team) during the 2021-22 season, signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers on Jan. Leonard was also recovering from an ankle injury that required surgery. They all can score at all three levels; they all can defend; they all can have good activity, good instincts. However, due to Bryant's emergence in the absence of Davis, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has given serious thought to moving Davis back to the power forward position — where he has historically preferred playing — and starting Bryant at center. Leonard hasn't suited up for a team since he was suspended and fined $50,000 for his use of an antisemitic slur while live-streaming on Twitch. Unless Brown is signed to a second 10-day or is signed to a contract for the remainder of the season, the Lakers will have an open roster spot next week. So, yeah, that's something we'll definitely take a look at." [Anthony Davis](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/anthony-davis-player), [Thomas Bryant](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/thomas-bryant-player) and [Damian Jones](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/damian-jones-player).

It sure seems like your Los Angeles Lakers are not quite done making roster moves, even if those moves happen to be centered more around the fringes of ...

The Heat ultimately gave up a future second-round draft pick just to get off his contract later that season, shipping him out to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who subsequently waived the rest of Leonard's (insanely generous) $9.4 million contract. The seven-footer out of the University of Illinois only played in two games before requiring season-ending surgeries to his shoulder and ankle. [Shams Charania of The Athletic](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1613662909300613120) that nine-year veteran center Meyers Leonard is going to audition for LA this Friday.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 points and eight rebounds for Dallas, and Spencer Dinwiddie scored twice in a late 6-0 run to put it away in double OT. Russell ...

James hit two free throws to put the Lakers up 108-105 late in the first overtime, but Doncic hit another tying 3-pointer, and Wood blocked James' layup attempt shortly before the buzzer. Doncic calmly moved past a perimeter screen and drilled a tying 3-pointer for his first field goal of the fourth quarter. Doncic then hit the go-ahead layup midway through the second overtime. “I'm more tired now,” said Doncic, who rested for only 9 seconds in the final 40 minutes of play. “Anytime you've got (No.) 77 on the floor, you know there's a chance.” Christian Wood added 24 points and 14 rebounds in the Mavs' fourth straight win over the Lakers.

Tonight, at a sold-out Crypto.com Arena, your Los Angeles Lakers managed to grind their way back from a 19-point Dallas Mavericks lead to push the Dallas ...

A terrible free-throw shooting night for the Lakers (63% on 17-of-27 shooting) was salvaged only by an even worse free-throw shooting night for the Mavericks, on significantly lower volume (52.9% on 9-of-17 shooting). Westbrook scored a Lakers-most 28 points on 10-of-23 shooting (including a surprising 3-of-6 from deep), grabbed seven rebounds and had five assists. Gabriel played more minutes (13:56) than Bryant (9:56) in the game's third and fourth quarters. Defensively, it was all Christian Wood, who recorded his fourth and fifth (!) blocks of the night in the final overtime. in his way, Doncic was able to nail a deep three against Dennis Schröder at the six-second mark to tie the game at 101-101. Gabriel played almost the entirety of both overtime periods (9:48), while the bulkier, longer Bryant rode pine. My favorite moment came with an exchange of flushes between Spencer Dinwiddie and Wenyen Gabriel, with each alternately guarding the other on a switch: LA quickly got outpaced by a Mavericks scoring burst to open the second quarter, and was down by as many as 19 points before mounting something of a comeback. In the early goings of a very physical contest, game officials held their whistles often, leading to plenty of grievances on both sides -- especially from James and Doncic. At the break, Westbrook already had 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, while James had 11 on 4-of-10 shooting. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Mavericks suddenly led by just a couple possessions, 82-76. Reserve point guard Russell Westbrook led LA with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor:

With Anthony Davis still rehabbing from a stress injury in his right foot, the Los Angeles Lakers could use some viable frontcourt depth.

Leonard, a nine-year NBA veteran who has played for the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat, has been out of the NBA since early 2021, when he used an anti- ...

He has played center most of the season, but he publicly stated his preference for the power forward position. Cousins signed with the Lakers in the 2019 offseason, but never played for them as he suffered an injury in the offseason. He has not played in the NBA since then. The team pursued [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) are working out [Meyers Leonard](/nba/players/1992809/meyers-leonard/) on Friday to potentially join their roster, according to [The Athletic's Shams Charania](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1613662909300613120). Leonard was suspended indefinitely after the incident in March 2021.

The seven-footer out of Illinois enjoyed a nine-year NBA career as a backup for the Trail Blazers and Heat, before injuries and controversy ended his run in ...

[Sterling Brown](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownst02.html) is on a 10-day contract and has yet to score a basket across three games, so he may not be long for L.A. To his credit, Leonard completed training in a league-mandated cultural diversity program and has since apologized for his behavior. Still just 30, Leonard represents an athletic and intriguing option for Los Angeles. He has not been rostered, in the NBA or internationally, ever since. The seven-footer out of Illinois enjoyed a nine-year NBA career as a backup for the Trail Blazers and Heat, before injuries and controversy ended his run in 2021. While recovering from season-ending surgeries to his shoulder and ankle in 2021, Leonard used an antisemitic slur during a live stream of a video game on Twitch.

Coach Darvin Ham says the team owes it to themselves to consider any opportunities to improve the roster. Cousins has not played this season and Leonard has ...

After practice on Wednesday, Ham said that hasn’t changed – he still tries to get close to players and help handle their needs off the court. “It’s nothing personal; it’s just the business of basketball. The Lakers have gotten less production than hoped out of Damian Jones, who came into Thursday’s game averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds and completely out of the regular rotation. Cousins last played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets last season, averaging 9 points and 5.6 rebounds on 46% shooting. DeMarcus Cousins, 32, and Meyers Leonard, 30, are expected to work out for the team on Friday, according to Bleacher Report and The Athletic respectively. He also had shoulder and ankle surgeries, and complications from the latter have kept him physically off the court.

After they had their five-game winning streak snapped on Monday by the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers tried to start a new streak on Thursday ...

LeBron James and Lakers head coach Darvin Ham expressed their frustration with a no-call on Tim Hardaway Jr.'s defense of a potential game-winning 3 by Troy ...

But we were still watching it after the game, and it looked like a foul on his follow-through." "I have no comments on that," he said. But it just looked clear as day like it was a foul," Ham said. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) found Brown on the right wing for a potential game-winning 3 at the buzzer. in a foul mood Thursday night in the Lakers' eventual [119-115](/nba/game/_/gameId/401468785) double-overtime loss to the Mavs. "That's not my job to ref, and I'm not gonna sit here and decide who should have did what."

With a three-point lead, Ham decided he didn't want one of Dallas' many capable 3-point shooters to get an open look and opted to defend Luka straight up. That ...

Or was he not very confident in the Lakers' ability to make two free throws? Just to drive the point fully home, Luka went ahead and stuck another game-tying three with under a minute to play in the first overtime. Was Ham really confident in the guys he had defending? Well, Luka is the bull. And let's say Luka makes both (which would have been no guarantee; he had just missed two flagrant foul shots earlier in the quarter). "Felt confident in the five guys we had out there defending." [Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) had a three-point lead against the [Mavericks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DAL/dallas-mavericks/), who had possession on a side out. Of course, who's to say one of the other Mavericks wouldn't have made the same shot if Ham had decided to double Luka. Doncic isn't a good 3-point shooter according to statistics, but when the game is on the line, you can throw those numbers out. That tied the game, and it was, again, a predictable outcome. "I'm kicking myself in the butt," Ham said. He hadn't registered a bucket since the 5:22 mark of the third quarter, over a 17-minute drought.

Luka Doncic was hounded by Russell Westbrook for nearly the entire game, aggressively denying him the ball in a way that irked Mavericks owner Mark Cuban who ...

The result was one of the sloppier games of the season thus far, and one that needed two overtimes of controversy to resolve itself. There were periods of roughly six minutes each in the second and third quarters in which neither side went to the free-throw line (excluding a technical foul) despite the physicality remaining high for most of the game. [said](https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1613780569279827968) after the game. It was hardly the only controversial call to go against the Lakers, but in the grand scheme of things, you could argue that they still ultimately benefitted from the officiating. After inbounding the ball with a tied score and six seconds remaining, the double-teamed [LeBron James](/nba/players/400553/lebron-james/) swung the ball over to an open [Troy Brown Jr.](/nba/players/2938055/troy-brown-jr/), who geared up for a game-winning 3-pointer but was seemingly smacked in the process. "That's a f---ing foul," he [said](https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1613784450399350786), from across the locker room, as Brown was asked about the play in the post-game media scrum.

LeBron James thought the Los Angeles Lakers got a raw deal in their 119-115 double-overtime defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

"It's a foul. No matter what [Brown] says, it's a f--king foul. "No, it's a f--king foul," he said, per ESPN's

Some NBA fans were unrelenting toward LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers star went without a field goal across two overtimes in Thursday's 119-115 ...

#LALvsDAL @KingJames who said you was a 3pt shooter? pic.twitter.com/hjYZ5oxGFj LeBron on the Lakers crunchtime struggles: "The 1 consistent thing we have is a billion different lineups...teams have closing lineups...we got a lot of guys that's banged up. That shot had no choice but to hit the back of the rim #MavsLakers It's the last few seconds, on the obvious isos, where he's struggling.

He's not an elite jump shooter and he's lost so much acceleration that he can't get to the rim in those situations.

The Athletic puts Lakers undrafted guard as among best in 2021 draft class.

Reaves can handle the ball and pass, and this season, he's made his open shots (37.2 percent from 3, 89.1 percent from the line); he's also been very effective on midrange shots and floaters this season, shooting a scalding 62.3 percent on 2s as a result. picked up the 24-year-old. While this probably says more about his team than it does about Reaves, the second-year pro has also proven he's a keeper at this level. In recent memory, the Lakers' top draft picks have not panned out for many reasons, whether that's because L.A. Kyle Kuzma, a late first-round pick, was a vital member of the 2020 championship team. Reaves has earned a spot in the rotation, which is why The Atheltic's John Hollinger has Reaves as the best in his draft class.

Luka Doncic hit tying 3-pointers in the final seconds of regulation and the first overtime, finishing with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in the ...

James hit two free throws to put the Lakers up 108-105 late in the first overtime, but Doncic hit another tying 3-pointer, and Wood blocked James' layup attempt shortly before the buzzer. Doncic calmly moved past a perimeter screen and drilled a tying 3-pointer for his first field goal of the fourth quarter. The injuries forced Ham to use his 23rd different starting lineup in 42 games. "We gave ourselves a chance to win," said James, who went 9 for 28 and missed all seven of his 3-point attempts. "Anytime you've got (No.) 77 on the floor, you know there's a chance." Christian Wood added 24 points and 14 rebounds in the Mavs' fourth straight win over the Lakers.

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The Los Angeles Lakers were not pleased with officials for a no-call at ...

"He made a tough shot, simple as that," Lakers guard Russell Westbrook said. No matter what [Brown] says, it's a f---ing foul. "It's a foul. Crew chief Josh Tiven clarified the call after the game, saying that Hardaway Jr. "Hardaway Jr. attempted a three-point shot with

Evan Sidery joins Ben to recap the win for the Dallas Mavericks over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in the NBA.

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Had Dallas forward Tim Hardaway Jr. committed a foul on Brown's potential game-winning shot just before the end of the fourth quarter against the Mavericks on ...

[is out of the lineup long](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-12-23/lakers-anthony-davis-out-indefinitely-stress-injury-right-foot) [ term](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-12-23/lakers-anthony-davis-out-indefinitely-stress-injury-right-foot) again. [Darvin Ham](https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-12-11/los-angeles-lakers-coach-darvin-ham-saginaw-roots) for persuading Westbrook to accept and enjoy the sixth-man role. It’s tough to be patient when the future looks fuzzy and the only constant is change. One of his best teachers in that department has been Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, the former Lakers assistant who was James’ teammate on the 2008 U.S. “I think ever since we made the trade for AD to bring him here, our whole thing was about health. They were 21-21 at the same point last season, shortly before Anthony Davis injured his right foot and they took a nosedive after the All-Star break, which kept them out of the play-in. Westbrook’s production off the bench has been near-miraculous, and credit to coach “So, it’s almost like, who is in a good rhythm that night is going to be probably on the floor along with myself and Russ.” He seemed to lack his usual energy physically and emotionally, and he missed all six shots he took in the two overtime periods. “The one consistent thing that we have is a billion different lineups. Imagine that: For the Lakers, who have championships in their DNA, reaching 10th place or higher this season would be a major accomplishment. The cameras were rolling, ready to record Brown’s response.

Last night, your Los Angeles Lakers clawed their way back from a 19-point second quarter disadvantage against the Dallas Mavericks to have a shot to ...

Given the timing of the post, it sure seems like this was made in reaction to that game call. The game clock expired and the two teams began their first of two eventual overtime periods. and the ball missed the net.

Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks managed to defeat LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA's Thursday slate. DallasBasketball.com made some key ...

When considering how teams tend to double Doncic in pivotal moments, he was a bit surprised not to see the Lakers do it again on the final possession of regulation. “We knew Russ was battling (Doncic) the whole entire time. He got to his spot to create a step-back 3-pointer and knocked it down, tying the score with 47.1 seconds remaining. With the need to get three points, he went to work to create a clean look. He converted a step-back 3-pointer after the Lakers had taken a 101-98 lead with 11.8 seconds left in regulation play. Doncic played a substantial role in the Mavs achieving this victory. ''I think I was good in the game with the energy. “We knew (the Lakers) were going to make a run,” Hardaway said. With the double-team and getting guys open shots, (Doncic) was doing everything. With some of the Mavs' starters even reaching the 50-minute threshold, it's safe to say they will need some recovery. Both teams played a physical game, and there were clear signs of players battling through pain before making it to the finish line. [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/christian-wood-jason-kidd-dallas-mavs-relationship-interview) (24-19) overcame losing a big early lead and needing two overtime periods to defeat the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://nbaanalysis.net/2023/01/12/nba-trade-rumors-this-blazers-lakers-trade-moves-anfernee-simons/) (19-23), with 119-115 being the final score.

Well, Los Angeles Lakers fans, if you think your Lakers may have been denied some potentially game-sealing charity stripe tries at some point during a ...

I could be wrong, but even still watching it after the game, it looked like a foul on his follow through." gets a piece of the ball on the closeout and then does make some high-five contact, which is legal and that play was correctly no-called," Tiven noted. [Dave McMenamin of ESPN](https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1614016627896651777) reports that the NBA released its Last Two Minutes Report for the bout today.

There were seven incorrect calls in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and the two overtimes in Thursday's game between the Mavericks and Lakers, ...

The report also said any "high-five" contact was considered incidental. made contact with the ball and Brown's shooting hand -- was deemed correct by the league's report. According to the report, Mavs forward

The NBA's Last 2 Minute Report from Lakers-Mavs says LeBron James was indeed FOULED by Christian Wood on this potential game-winning layup in the final seconds ...

[first in Milwaukee](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/11/28/bucks-sign-demarcus-cousins-to-contract-to-add-front-court-depth/) when [Brook Lopez](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29382/brook-lopez) was out and he averaged 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. [Malik Monk](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30437/malik-monk) in Sacramento? It will be a record for an NBA regular-season game (the old record was 62,046, set on March 27, 1998, in the Georgia Dome to watch Michael Jordan and the Bulls beat the Hawks). [Anthony Davis](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29801/anthony-davis) has been one of the three best centers in the NBA this season, but he remains sidelined with a foot injury. With AD out, [Thomas Bryant](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30468/thomas-bryant) has found a comfort level as a floor-stretching scoring big starting next to LeBon James, but he is defensively challenged. Maybe the best of the group is [Larry Nance Jr.](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30183/larry-nance-jr) in New Orleans because of his defense. [Leonard said those ankle issues are behind him](https://twitter.com/MeyersLeonard/status/1511922191482294280). If the Lakers brought in Cousins or Leonard, it would be on a 10-day contract as they try to get through until Davis returns (he is reportedly ramping up activities but is weeks away). Over in Nance’s old home in Cleveland, don’t forget about [Kevin Love](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29377/kevin-love). [Jordan Poole](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51434/jordan-poole) [was the heavy preseason award favorite](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/10/17/prediction-time-nba-champion-mvp-all-of-the-top-awards/), but he’s started more than half of the Warriors’ games (disqualifying him to this point). [Russell Westbrook](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29376/russell-westbrook) started hot for the Lakers off the bench but has been up and down since, and while he piles up counting stats, his impact is less impressive. [high school dunk contest legend](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PePUaQ6789k).

The Mavericks clawed their way to a 119-115 double-overtime victory against the Lakers on Thursday night. But the thrilling matchup didn't come without some ...

Dončić’s contact to Gabriel’s arm affected his “ability to control the rebound,” the report stated. Per the report, Mavericks forward Christian Wood “initiated contact” with James’s left arm before blocking his shot. “It’s a foul. No matter what [Brown] says, it’s a f---ing foul. “Any high-five contact is considered incidental,” the report read. After the game, James did not shy away from expressing his thoughts about the officiating.