What's the book on this guy?
For those that are familiar with him, can he be a good role player or was he just trade fodder. Also, does he fit better at the 3 or 4...and can he defend?
He's got physical talent flying out of his ass.....strikes me as someone who's had the ball in his hands his entire life as a PG/SG, hit a late growth spurt and never figured out how to be a SF who contributes without having the ball in his hands as much.
He definitely has potential to be a good role player if he gets more consistent as a catch and shoot player and finds a coach who can get him to focus without having the ball. Underrated pickup in the trade imo.
Yeah, from what little i've read on him the concensus seems to be that he's a freakish athlete without a position. Too bad we have Mike Brown or it sounds like LA could be pretty deep.
He might make a 180 and start beasting like Hill did when we give him a shot.
Hill-Clark-Ebanks would give the bench good size and athleticism. If Clark turns out to have been an underachiever like Hill, Lakers will have a formidable bench in most respects.
I was so happy when the Suns picked him, pissed when they so quickly gave up on him, and now annoyed that he'll likely hit his potential as a Laker.
DoK summed it up. He was late to basketball, developed as a SG with elite length/athleticism, had a late growth spurt and never fully developed in college because his physical traits allowed him to dominate with actual skill. If he gets a jumper and commits to defense, he's got the athleticism and size to be an impact comboforward.
If he he develops then our bench will look pretty swole:
Jamison
Hill
Meeks
Clark
Duhon
Blake (as our 3rd pg)
STAAAACKED
We will still need a backup SG, I really want Kobe to have some sort of backup.
Isn't Duhon a massive alcoholic or something, in the Keon Clark mold? I'd take Blake over him in a second.
Don't put much faith in Earl Clark. He is just good enough to be extremely frustrating. Great athlete but doesn't really understand the game, doesn't try hard, doesn't put in the time to improve. Can't shoot yet takes a lot of flat jumpers one step inside the three-point line anyway which invariably brick out hard. Should be a great defender but actually mediocre. Doesn't go for rebounds. Doesn't generally seem to give a crap. Will have the -occasional- 14 point game and get you thinking, hey, this guy could really turn into something. Then he has eight straight stinkers.
He's a throw-in and won't contribute to your team.
We need athleticism so that's a huge plus. If he can step up and play a little D then I'll be thrilled.
Is he even going to receive a legit shot in LA?..
Jamison is guaranteed minutes, and Hill showed signs of being productive last year..Howard's injury is a concern, but if he's healthy, he typically plays ironman minutes..
Ebanks is in the same position as Clark, but has seniority and may be a better fit..
Also, while Mike Brown isn't Larry Brown or anything, I'm not sure if he's an advocate of prioritizing project players over proven commodities or players that are already familiar with him..
Fair points...maybe it's just wishful thinking, but it'd be nice to see EC get Ebanks' minutes. He's taller, can play the 3 or 4, and apparently has equal to or superior athleticism and defense. On paper, he's definitely more versatile. Hopefully Howard will put in a good word for him.
Like I said though, i havent seen enough of him (outside of Louisville) to form an educated opinion on his potential. I HAVE seen enough of Ebanks though--going back to his WVU days--and you can color me unimpressed.
He also has experience playing with BOTH Nash and Howard...so hopefully that counts for something.
Agreed about Ebanks, I've never bought the hype..it seems like he still has support from some of LA's management and fanbase, though..
NBA draft commentary & highlights:
tbh that bench is still not very good. It's definitely better but Duhon is absolute , go ask the Magic fansJamison is also pretty much done and can't play any defense
Clark will provide as much as Morrison did off the bench.
So as of now our projected depth chart is:
C: Howard, Hill, Sacre
PF: Gasol, Jamison
SF: MWP, Ebanks, Clark
SG: Bryant, Meeks, Johnson-Odom, Goudelock
PG: Nash, Blake, Duhon, Morris
So, out of this fine mess the roster will eventually have to be shaved down to 12 by playoff time. Unless someone inxplicably makes a splash, it'd safe to assume Sacre, Morris, and one of JO or Glock get the boot.
Furthermore, Clark needs to push Ebanks for the b/u 3, or Jamison for the b/u 4. Either way, Ebanks needs to be odd man out here. He's a garbage time plyer---let's see what Clark can do at either 3 or 4--and also where Antawn prefers. Only way we'll ever know, so try it early an often...could pay off dividends down the line.
As for PG, Blake needs to go to 3rd. Duhon--even--with all his problems is 2 years younger and a better defender.
2013 Playoff roster (hopefully):
C: Howard, Hill
PF: Gasol, Clark
SF: MWP, Jamison, Ebanks
SG: Bryant, Meeks
PG: Nash, Duhon, Blake (ugh)
^ Nash trying to get Barbosa to come bolster the bench. Blake would be expendable. Maybe the Lakers could trade him to SA for The Red Rocket?
What's the word on bosa? Is he coming? However, I don't think he's needed since the Lakers already have Meeks. Mitch has to make a big decision with what to do with Duhon and Blake. Nash can't afford to have two stinky back-ups.
No reason for the Lakers to get that should-have-been-aborted-by-his-dead- -mother Barbosa. Meeks is smarter and won't completely fall apart in the playoffs.
Yeah, b/u PG is worrisome...either one of those 2 getting 15+mpg makes me cringe. If they can plug that hole then they should win imo, health permitting.
^Barbosa isn't a backup PG. His productive minutes came when he was in with Nash and could come off screens/get out on the break/spot up from three. Duhon is a better backup PG than Barbosa.
I don't want Barbosa, tbh...he's streaky and kills momentum. Don't want him, Blake, OR Duhon. Just somebody ordinary please.
I hope Morris and/or Glock makes improvements this season. Just be decent enough to provide good minutes, so Mitch can ditch Duhon and Blake.
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