In case you have been living under a rock, the Lakers have already sent Steve Blake to the Warriors in exchange for two young players, namely Marshon Brooks and Kent Bazemore.
(News link: Lakers trade Steve Blake to the Warriors)
They are both bench players from the Warriors averaging 2.6 ppg (7 games in GSW and 2.1 ppg in 2 GSW seasons) respectively. To be fair, this was an acceptable deal between a contender and a, let’s just say, not so much of a contender — cap relief for the Lakers, veteran back-up PG for the Warriors.
I don’t know what exactly can the two exciting players possibly bring to the Lakers at this point but what I can tell you is that they are both having a difficult time with their own careers.
Just look at their individual career averages:
Kent Bazemore
| Season | Tm | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | GSW | 61 | 0 | 4.4 | .371 | .294 | .402 | .614 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 |
| 2013-14 | GSW | 44 | 0 | 6.1 | .371 | .256 | .448 | .528 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| Career | 105 | 0 | 5.1 | .371 | .274 | .421 | .575 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.1 |
Generated 2/21/2014.
Marshon Brooks
| Season | Tm | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | NJN | 56 | 47 | 29.4 | .428 | .313 | .463 | .764 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 12.6 |
| 2012-13 | BRK | 73 | 2 | 12.5 | .463 | .273 | .500 | .734 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 5.4 |
| 2013-14 | TOT | 17 | 0 | 5.2 | .378 | .333 | .387 | .778 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 2.6 |
| 2013-14 | BOS | 10 | 0 | 7.3 | .375 | .500 | .350 | .786 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.1 |
| 2013-14 | GSW | 7 | 0 | 2.1 | .385 | .000 | .455 | .750 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| Career | 146 | 49 | 18.1 | .438 | .303 | .473 | .754 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 7.8 |
Generated 2/21/2014.
Check out Marshon Brook’s Kobe-esque higlights below:
The D’Antoni Effect
It is not a secret that MDA is hated in Lakerland but Lakers fans should not forget the D’Antoni Special — the unique power to revive a dying career of a talented young player. Almost all of his guinea pigs have successfully graduated with great stats and loaded paychecks after being coached by him.
Here are some of D’Antoni’s successful alumni and current projects:
- Steve Nash – 2 MVPs, PHOENIX SUNS POINT GOD.
- Jeremy Lin – LINSANITY resulting to a USD 25 million contract with the Rockets
- Raymond Felton – career high averages under MDA 17 ppg & 9.0 apg
- Xavier Henry – WIP
- Wesley Johnson – WIP
- Kendall Marshall (his latest masterpiece)
- ???
Usually D’Antoni runs pick-and-roll offense which is very point guard-friendly. His latest operator who’s been benefiting strongly is Kendall Marshall, the D-Leaguer from Delaware 87ers, who turned point god for the Lakers. Marshall has been racking up double-doubles almost every game because, why not? MDA allows him to do so. The coach is like steroids for point guards.
Another Shot to Glory
With Mike D’Antoni as the head coach, the Lakers will definitely give Marshon Brooks and Kent Bazemore a chance to shine. They are both hardworking and talented so sprinkling some MDA magic will undoubtedly help them. MDA loves players who shoots and Brooks’ strength is his scoring. Last year he scored 27 points and 7 assists against the Cavs. If this isn’t a perfect match then I don’t know what is. Bazemore, meanwhile, is a pesky perimeter defender who goes to the rim hard. Both players have all the time to showcase their talents because again, why not? The Lakers are not going anywhere this season anyway.
May the basketball gods guide Brooks and Bazemore to make the most out of their midseason stint in LA, with Brooks finding his much-needed confidence and Bazemore contributing a lot more than just cheering all the way from the bench like Robert Sacre.
Check out Kent Bazemore’s Sacre-esque highlights below: