Contract Status: Team Option
Karl only appeared in 17 games for L.A. this season, averaging just over four minutes of playing time—most of which came during garbage time. However, Karl instantly became a fan favorite at STAPLES Center, shooting 31% in three pointers and showing the potential to become a top-tier shooter for the Lakers down the road.
After spending time in the D-League and at the NBA level, Karl’s place on the Lakers’ roster is still up in the air heading into next season. Karl is expected to participate in the Vegas Summer League though where he’ll seek to fine-tune his court awareness, defensive game and ball-handling skills.
In his exit interview Center Chris Mihm expressed an intent to exercise his player option, giving the Lakers ten players under contract.
Those ten players are:
Kobe Bryant
Andrew Bynum
Pau Gasol
Derek Fisher
Jordan Farmar
Luke Walton
Lamar Odom
Vladimir Radmanovic
Trevor Ariza (exercised player option to stay with the team)
Chris Mihm (when he exercises his option)
They also have two restricted free agents in Ronny Turiaf and Sasha Vujacic.
When talking to the media last week General Manager Mitch Kupchak took a “they’re ours to lose” approach to the pair.
“Both players are restricted free agents, so we can’t lose either player. Ultimately it will be our choice if a player did not return,” said Kupchak.
Under NBA rules a restricted free agent’s original team has the right to match any offer extended to him during the free agency period. The Lakers will also have to look at luxury cap considerations when deciding who to bring back. The team is projected to be over next season’s luxury tax threshold and would have to pay a dollar-to-dollar penalty for money spent over the limit.
The following players from the 2007-2008 playoff roster are unrestricted free agents:
Ira Newble
DJ Mbenga
The Lakers hold the option with Coby Karl and he is expected to play for the team’s entry in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Reserve guard Coby Karl was the first Lakers team member to hit the floor tonight, besting Trevor Ariza by a good five minutes. They were followed by Luke Walton and then Ronny Turiaf.
The Lakers shellacked the Clippers 119-82, outscoring them by 29 points in the second half to bust open what was only an eight point halftime lead. Seven Lakers scored in double figures, led by Derek Fisher’s 17 (7-11 shooting) after struggling to find his shot for parts of the past two weeks. As a team, the Lakers held the Clippers to an abysmal 38% shooting from the floor while outrebounding them by a healthy 10 boards.
“Every body getting the chance to play kind of gives the team a good feel about playing basketball,” said Jackson.
Kobe Bryant added 16 points and Lamar Odom continued his outstanding overall play, scoring 15 points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals. In his return to the starting lineup, Vladimir Radmanovic chipped in 10 points, including two three point makes.
“It felt good to get back on track,” said Bryant. “During the season you’ll have games like we’ve had in the past, particularly when you don’t have that many practices, you can’t get that rhythm that you are used to playing with. It kind of deteriorates some what so we got a good practice under our belt, came out and executed well.”
Continue reading ‘Lakers vs. Clippers Post-Game’
It was announced today that rookie guard Coby Karl will be sent to the Lakers D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, for the second time this season.
In his previous stint Karl posted solid numbers averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.4 minutes while shooting .435 from three-point range and .492 from the field.
Click here for the press release.
Published in Andrew Bynum,
Chris Mihm,
Coby Karl,
DJ Mbenga,
Derek Fisher,
Injury News,
Jordan Farmar,
Kobe Bryant,
Lamar Odom,
Luke Walton,
Ronny Turiaf,
Sasha Vujacic,
Trevor Ariza and
Vladimir Radmanovic .
Here’s a quick look at every Lakers’ health status as the team heads to Detroit to start the longest road trip in team history.
In alphabetical order…
Trevor Ariza
Still recovering from fracturing the fourth metatarsal in his right foot after landing on teammate Derek Fisher’s foot in practice on January 20th. Expected to miss another 6-7 more weeks. Did not travel with the team.
Kwame Brown
As healthy as he’s going to be during the course of an 82-game season.
Kobe Bryant
As healthy as he’s going to be during the course of an 82-game season.
Andrew Bynum
Still recovering from a subluxation of the patella and a bone bruise of his left knee that he suffered in the January 13th game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Expected to miss approximately 6 more weeks. Did not travel with the team.
Continue reading ‘Road Trip Injury Roundup’
The Lakers recalled Coby Karl from the D-Fenders today.
Coby averaged 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.5 minutes over the 10 games he played in the D-League. Karl was also bombing at a 43.5% clip from behind the arc.
Coby will be available for tomorrow’s holiday tilt against the Suns.
Click here to read the full press release
The Lakers meet up with AI, Melo, and the rest of the Denver Nuggets tonight at STAPLES Center (7:30, TNT).
The Nuggets have lost their last two games (at Houston, vs. Indiana), but still sport a 9-6 record that puts them just ahead of the Lakers in the Western Conference playoff race. Denver finished as the 6th seed last season, while the Lakers were the 7th seed.
The Nuggets are all kinds of banged up, but could get oft-injured forward Kenyon Martin back tonight. Former Laker Chucky Atkins has been ruled out of the game with a severe groin strain, as have big men Nene & Steven Hunter.
The Nuggets still have Marcus Camby–last year’s Defensive Player of the Year–manning the paint. The Bynum/Camby matchup should be fun to watch when the Lakers have the ball. Bynum continues to blossom, but Camby is averaging 3.5 blocks and close to 15 rebounds a game.
After being the bright spot of the team in the early going, the Lakers reserves have struggled to find their way after the trade to acquire Trevor Ariza and Drew moving to the first unit in Kwame Brown’s absence. It raises the question of “Who Starts?”
Continue reading ‘Lakers Today: 11/29/07′
In a somewhat expected move, Coby Karl has been sent to the Lakers Developmental League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Karl has played sparingly this season, appearing in only two games.
Coby’s first appearance for the D-Fenders will be this Thursday against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Game time is 3:30pm at STAPLES Center. Your ticket for Thursday’s Lakers-Nuggets game is also good for a lower level seat for the D-Fenders game that day.
Here’s the full press release:
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guard Coby Karl to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.
Karl was signed by the Lakers as a free agent on July 30, 2007. He has appeared in two games this season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 assists in 2.0 minutes.
The 6’5” guard from Boise State averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior and was named First Team All-WAC. Karl’s 1,698 career points ranks third on Boise State’s all-time scoring list while leaving Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-pointers made (266).
The Lakers D-League team, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, open up their season tomorrow at 2:30 against the Utah Flash.
The D-Fenders recently set their opening day roster of 10 by cutting former UCLA guard Brian Morrison and Laker training camp invitee Andre Patterson. But that roster might get a couple additions in the form of some Lakers rookies.
D-League rules dictate that first and second year players on NBA rosters are eligible to be sent to their team’s D-League affiliates. This means that of the current Lakers, Jordan Farmar, Javaris Crittenton, and Coby Karl are eligible for assignment.
Farmar spent time with the D-Fenders last season when he wasn’t getting much playing time in the Lakers rotation. Farmar ended the season as the Lakers starting point guard and has solidified himself as a key backup to Derek Fisher. Jordan is currently averaging more than 10 points in 21 minutes per game and doesn’t look to be destined for anything less than the starting point guard spot spot on the Sophmore team at All-Star Weekend.
Crittenton and Karl are a different matter. Both have played sparingly in the Lakers first 12 games and could benefit from the extra playing time.
Continue reading ‘D-Fender Possibilities’
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