Ran into Assistant GM Ronnie Lester, who is taking in the Summer League games here in Vegas, mainly to get a good look at Adam Morrison. The rest of the Lakers team, including draft pick Chinemelu Elonu, are little more than prospective training game fodder.
Morrison, though. has a guaranteed contract which means — barring a trade — he is expected to be back with the Lakers next season. And since Mitch Kupchak repeatedly has said the Lakers will carry a maximum of 13 players (yes, that includes Lamar Odom), which could leave Sun Yue out.
Lester agreed.
Sun missed last year’s Summer League because of his commitment to the Chinese National Team. He again skipped this summer’s play in favor of playing overseas.
Lester said Sun’s apparent lack of commitment to the Lakers and the fact he missed all of training camp last season because of an injury, doesn’t help his chances of keeping his roster spot.
“It does seem he is the odd-man out,” Lester said.
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Why does he have to be the odd man out. For one thing luke Walton needs to go. He’s the worst player on the team in my eyes. Then you will keep the draft pick over him. The Lakers can benefit from China’s fan base too. It’s called marketing your team. Then, Sun Yue is very young and has some talent that no one ever gave him the chance to show. I would let go of Walton, Morrison, or the draft pick and keep Sun. Cmon now. Thats a shame.
first off chris i can see you know nothing about basket ball. Luke walton is the worst player, you have got to be klidding right? For starters last year our worst player was Sashasecond Lukemay not score lots of points or be fancy
but he does his job and does it well, which is help the young guys who get carried away from the triangle to stay within their offense. In case you havent noticed he when hes not in their the second unit crumbles. Lamar held them together but with out walton passing making picks and getting himself and the young guns involved in the triangle as opposed to running and gunning all the time Luke Walton is the worst u make me laugh.
I think Sun Yue must go so Lakers can get a much productive players from the Summer League or use the saving to reduced the luxury tax
I don’t see what anybody sees in Sun Yue except the novelty factor. He’s an unathletic stick, he can’t defend, has weak ball-handling skills, and doesn’t seem to be able to get his own shot.
The Lakers are in championship-mode for the next three years, meaning that development projects are a waste of time. As Kobe has been known to say, “ship his assets out”!
It seems like an easy call. He has minimal game, and no desire to work over here on improving it. And most of his contract isn’t guaranteed if we cut him soon. If we did need another player, we could find a better one for the league minimum.
I think the Sun has set on Yue. Good luck :>)
Would laker fans trade sasha vujacic for essentially partially-guaranteed contracts and one expiring contracts of a back-up shooting guard. By cutting the Toronto players, you could shave almost 2 million off of this years salary (doubled because of luxury tax) and over 5 million the next year. This gives you all the money you need to sign odom, and you give Sasha’s minutes to Shannon Brown.
As much as I love Sasha’s spirit and his overwhelming self-confidence. I believe that the team would do much better if we can trade him for the expiring contracts as suggested by Sunil, it would allow Adam Morrison playing time, keep the relatively cheaper Sun Yue… Allow Shannon Brown to develop.
Plus of course we get to give L.O. the deal he wants without suffering too much on the Luxury Tax.
Win-win situation…
plus Sasha can definitely develop and be a better player/shooter with more court time in a team that needs his specific skillset.
And we love your overwhelming self-confidence in your posting, but you and sunil need to watch Laker games more often if you’d rather keep Sun Yue over Sasha! I have to disagree with both of you on that one.
CHRIS,
Aren’t you being a little tough on Luke? I know he isn’t the most athletic player on the team and he’s had plenty of time to improve that ugly push-shot of his but he seemingly always comes through for us. Plus he adds to the good chemistry in the locker room. Can’t discount that. You can’t seriously prefer Sun over Luke can you? Luke has at least shown he deserves to be in this league. I’m not sure Sun is close to be as talented as Coby Karl and he’s not even in the league. As far as marketing, the Lakers are huge globally anyway. Millions of Chinese won’t suddenly disappear as fans because Sun is no longer on the roster. Hell, Sun can’t even commit to the Lakers for Summer League why should continue to rock the coveted PURPLE and GOLD!?!
Sun Yue/Luke and Vujucic need to go. They’re D-leage talent at best.
Even though i am a fan of sun, the media’s reports of him non-attendance to various matters does not bode well for him.
For those giving LW a hard time you have got to be serious, he is a great player he isnt needed to score 20+ a game he get on with his job, making a solid pass, getting boardsm playing D, those kind of player help eveything else come together.
Why are you guys so harsh on Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic??? First of all, scoring doesn’t make you a good player. If you are a true basketball fan, it is a team sport. Luke is a facilator and a great passer. His role does not require to score…but to set up his team mates to score from the low post or fast . Also, give Sasha a break. Next to Kobe, Sasha is the hardest working player on the team. He was mostly injured last season…and he never got his timing or confidence back to shoot those 3 pointers in the regular season and playoffs. Both Luke and Sasha are valuable assets to the Lakers. You bandwagon Laker fans really don’t know about basketball.
word jpratz…
too many bandwagon fans just spitting out what they read elsewhere.
luke is not a great player, but he is a great role player. the entire team functions smoother when he is on the court. he may get little stats, but the movement improves dramatically especially in the second team. of course him being very familiar with the triangle helps a lot, and outside of the lakers he won’t be as useful, but a very solid player in our system. People who don’t fully understand the game should get off his back.
not to mention you can’t just get rid of someone… there is contracts involved..