Russell will look to impress given his competitive nature and the Lakers might have the best player on the court in Jordan Clarkson, who comes off a first-team all National Basteball Association rookie campaign.
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After going through what he described as a “training camp practice” on Monday, he said he is in better shape now than when he first arrived for one of Coach Byron Scott’s famous workouts. “Just more mentally prepared, physically prepared, than I was a year ago”.
While reports and rhetoric being pushed from the front office suggest that Russell will have his contract situation settled in time for Friday’s opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, recent history suggests that the Lakers and fans should prepare otherwise..
Questions remain whether Randle is best suited as a power forward.
Last year’s seventh overall selection out of Kentucky, forward Julius Randle, faced a similar situation when going into his first Summer League.
Randle sticks with “basketball player”. “It was a blessing to be back on the court playing the game I love, so I can’t complain”. It’s something Nance said he didn’t necessarily realize before playing against him.
“I told him every rebound he gets he should push it”, Scott said, “because he has the ability to make plays for himself and for his teammates”.
Nance, who tore his ACL as a junior in college, isn’t surprised Randle is so comfortable and mature after one year with the Lakers.
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“This is great for him here (in practice), but now playing against somebody else is a different experience and we just want to see how he reacts to it”. “I passed it up, and he made sure to come back to me after the possession and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got that shot”.
