That's a slap in the face of bird-like predators everywhere. She's some kind of beast..I look @ the pic and I'm certain that the chupacabra is real
As fast as the Lakers may want to play, having a center that can defend the paint, get some rebounds, and contribute a point or two can't hurt when playing certain teams for matchup purposes. Even the Dubs employed this with Bogut when they won their 1st chip, and Bogut's loss might have contributed to their loss the next. Zubac is just a younger version. I wouldn't give up on him just yet.
The difference is that Zubac hasn't developed yet, may be better off elsewhere to help along that development, and he also may be the trade chip they need in order to afford themselves a shot at adding another all-star alongside LeBron and George. In regards to the latter..I love Zu, but I don't love him enough to turn down a trade that'd open up more cap space for an immediate championship chase. Bogut makes sense..cheap vet centers of his caliber are all LAL would need to go with LeBron/George/Russ/Zo/Ingram. Shit, Javale McGee was getting meaningful run in the playoffs for the Warriors' loaded squad. They just swapped out vet centers mid-dynasty..ran with Pachulia, David West and Mo Speights as well as Bogut. And they play 6'6" Draymond @ center as well. Now, if we're talking about a dominant presence like Cousins or Towns or somebody of their current caliber, of course that'd change things. Can't forget that LeBron just recruited Bogut to the Cavs last season at the trade deadline.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20750344/andre-iguodala-was-verge-leaving-golden-state-warriors July 1, 12:01 a.m. ET: Lakers on the line! Set up in the presidential suite at the Montage Hotel in Beverley Hills, Iguodala kicked off his free-agent meetings with a conference call with the Los Angeles Lakers, multiple sources said. Iguodala took this call alone before his camp was scheduled to arrive. The Lakers knew the odds of landing Iguodala were long, but were able to secure his time due to his close relationships with the men on the other end of the line: team president Magic Johnson, Pelinka and head coach Luke Walton (a former Warriors assistant and one of Iguodala's best friends dating back to their days as teammates at the University of Arizona). Los Angeles had significant cap space and a desperate need for veteran leadership to help guide its young core, including Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram. The call lasted about 20 minutes, sources said, but the Lakers were optimistic and offered a one-year deal in the $20 million-plus range. Iguodala was noncommittal. His night was just getting started. Members of his group were arriving and the Spurs were waiting downstairs in the lobby. Looks like Houston almost had him.
Ivica Zubac Facing Uncertain Second Season With The Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers surprised everyone this week with the unexpected signing of Andrew Bogut. It was previously believed that the team’s training camp roster was set and that there would be competition among several young players for the 15th and final spot on the regular season squad. Now it appears that spot belongs to Bogut assuming he shows he’s healthy. Bogut was the number one selection in the 2005 NBA draft. He has enjoyed a good career but has rarely been able to stay injury free for very long. He joined the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline last season and was expected to play a key role in their pursuit of another championship, but in his very first game he broke his leg and missed the rest of the year. Signing Bogut to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum is consistent with the Lakers plan to have maximum flexibility going into next summer when they will try to transform the franchise by signing at least two superstar free agents. But it also raises a number of questions about this year’s roster which now features four centers. In particular, what does this mean for Ivica Zubac? Zubac was a happy surprise for the Lakers last season in his rookie year. When he was drafted in the second round out of Croatia, he was unknown to fans and the media. His popularity soared in Summer League with his surprising skillset and his humble, youthful enthusiasm off the court. Zubac played sparingly the first half of the season but when he finally got his chance this past January he made the most of it. On the year he appeared in 38 games with the Lakers, averaging 7.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16 minutes per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field. Zubac had the first double-double of his career on January 19 against the Denver Nuggets when he scored 11 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked three shots. His best game was also against the Nuggets, on March 13, when he scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds. Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle on March 31 and missed the rest of the season. Off the strength of his rookie campaign, many fans expected Zubac to battle Timofey Movgov this fall for the starting center position. The first blow to Zubac came when the Lakers traded Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell for Brook Lopez and a first round draft pick. Zubac had no chance of wrestling the starting role away from Lopez, who is a much better offensive weapon than Mozgov while also being underrated defensively. Still, things weren’t so bad for Zubac. He looked like a lock to get solid minutes as the center for the second unit alongside his buddy Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. Then came news of the Bogut signing, and suddenly everything is looking murky for Zubac, not just for the upcoming season but perhaps for his future with the Lakers. GM Rob Pelinka pointed to the Lakers struggles with rim protection as a major place where Bogut could help the team. Luke Walton also noted his championship experience as being a great benefit to the Lakers young roster. Bogut was a key member of the Golden State Warriors for four years, winning one championship before he was dealt last summer to clear room for the Warriors to sign Kevin Durant. For his career, he has averaged 10 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Now there is the recent report that Lopez has been suffering from back soreness this summer and may miss part of the preseason. This is worrisome, because Lopez will be counted on to play a prominent role this season. There was no inkling that he was having any difficulty, and he has been one of the most visible players at the team’s training facility this offseason where he has been working hard on the court and weight room while getting to know his new teammates. Thus, there is speculation that the Lakers are worried enough about Lopez’s condition that they felt it was important to bring in a strong, veteran substitute in case Lopez misses much time. There is also a possibility that the Lakers are losing confidence in Zubac. He has been present most of the summer at the team’s training facility so the coaches and front office have had a good opportunity to observe him. Most worrisome, however, was his Summer League performance. After a strong showing last summer, Zubac was expected to dominate in Las Begas. However he struggled mightily, and looked out of sync on a team that was playing at a very fast pace. Zubac has a polished low-post game, although he needs to continue to show he can make mid- range and long range shots. The biggest worry is on defense where he lacks the quickness to switch out on pick-and-rolls, and struggles at times with rim protection due to slow off-ball recognition. The Lakers want to play at a very fast pace this season, which may not be Zubac’ strong suit. Lopez and Bogut aren’t fleet-footed centers either, but Lopez’s ability to stretch the floor helps his fit, while Bogut knows exactly how to carve out a role on a fast-paced team after years in Golden State. Bogut is on a partially guaranteed contract, but if he can stay healthy, it is hard to imagine that he will not play regularly. He and Luke Walton know each other from their time together with the Warriors, and no doubt that was instrumental in Bogut’s decision where to sign. He reportedly turned down opportunities with three very good teams, the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Timberwolves. The logical assumption is that he knows he will get more playing time with the Lakers. This 2017-18 Lakers’ season will be dedicated to facilitating the growth of the team’s young players, and to do that they will need minutes. Just a few months ago some were anointing Zubac the Lakers center of the future, and he was one of the team’s most popular players. Now, his future may be a lot less certain, including how much playing time he will actually get this year.
Luke did not bring one of his forner players in to cut him before the season starts. Unless he injures himself beforehand.
I have to believe that Bogut is already broken. If he wasn't he'd have signed somewhere else for more than the vet min.
Not sure that Cleveland/Boston/Minnesota would waste their time chasing after Bogut if he were broken. Broken to a degree..like incapable of playing 28-30 minutes a night over 60-70 games, I could see that, but not all the way broken. Cleveland has no cap flexibility right now and Boston is tapped out too, so the vet minimum was it for him. Minnesota is about to drop a big deal on Wiggins and they're over the cap as well, so they couldn't offer much either. And at this point in his career Bogut's only play may be looking to jump on with a contender because younger teams want their kids to play. Now, of course you'd respond there with " then why sign with LAL if signing with a contender is his only play "..well, because we're about to be that when LeBron lands and maybe Bogut sticks beyond this year. Ugly as she is, I'm riding with Shelburne on this one, she's fairly connected and says they're planning on him being a big part of what they're doing. As for his play..Bogut was averaging almost 14 rebounds per-36 last season before his season ending injury. I'd be surprised if he weren't capable of being solid for 18-20 minutes a night over 60-70 reg-season games, he's only 32. He just likely needs thorough maintenance like most 7 footers over the age of 30
" There was an analytic that the front office ran that said our team last year had one of the lowest percentages in stopping other teams at the rim, " Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka explained to 710 ESPN Radio broadcast team John Ireland and Mychal Thompson on Tuesday. " Teams would get by us on the perimeter and finish at the rim. So we addressed that with a guy like Andrew Bogut, who can come in and be a paint protector. I think the roster is retrofitted for better defense. ” We shall see.
This is exactly why I wonder if he's broken, or diminished to such a degree that he's not the same player as before, regardless of minutes. He is (was) an efficient, unselfish passer that plays great defense. Almost any team would pay above the minimum for that. I'm hoping he's good. I love Bogut, and if he anything close to what he was before, he makes the team a few games better. If Bogut can play, they have at least 1 excellent perimeter defender (KCP) and one decent interior defender by committee (Lopez, Bogut). They won't be a great defensive team, but they might be middle of the pack.
