Lakers hoping fresh talent can ignite franchise

Any year the Los Angeles Lakers come to Las Vegas to participate in the NBA Summer League, there’s going to be heightened interest.

But that interest has been ratcheted up a couple of notches after the Lakers drafted point guard D’Angelo Russell with the No. 2 overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft, then took forward Larry Nance Jr. at No. 27.

Throw in the fact Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson are going to play, and the Lakers should field a representative team when play begins today at the Thomas &Mack Center and Cox Pavilion.

“We like the way our draft went, and we’re off to a good start,” general manager Mitch Kupchak said. “But every summer is important. Some summers are more challenging than others.”

The Lakers are in the marquee game on opening day, as they play the Minnesota Timberwolves at 5:30 p.m. at the Thomas &Mack. Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, the No. 1 overall pick of the Wolves, will be on the court, assuming Russell signs his rookie contract.

As of Thursday afternoon, Russell and Nance hadn’t signed. The same scenario befell Randle a year ago, and he missed the start of the league. The Lakers hope to have both Russell and Nance signed in time to play today.

While the summer league will be important to the Lakers to see how their young guys handle the pro game, the next 10 days are only part of the picture as Kupchak and owner Jim Buss try to put a competitive team on the floor.

Aging guard Kobe Bryant is going to be back after missing most of last season because of a shoulder injury, and the Lakers were hoping to land a couple of big-name free agents to play alongside him. But LaMarcus Aldridge signed with San Antonio, DeAndre Jordan stayed with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Kevin Love (Cleveland) and Marc Gasol (Memphis) re-signed with their teams.

Kupchak traded for center Roy Hibbert from Indiana and signed free agents Lou Williams and Brandon Bass, and Jeremy Lin bolted for Charlotte. So it will be a much different looking Lakers roster come Oct. 13 when they return to Las Vegas for their annual preseason game against the Sacramento Kings at the MGM Grand Garden.

For now, Lakers fans will fixate on the rookies. If Russell plays, he will receive the most scrutiny given his stature as the No. 2 pick in the draft.

But Nance will be an interesting player to watch. The former Wyoming star will have to find his place in the NBA, and Kupchak said he’s not quite sure what the place is.

“Larry has to define who he is in this league,” Kupchak said. “If he was 3 inches taller, he wouldn’t have been there for us at 27. He understands the game and is very skilled. We just have to see where he best fits for us.”

Look for Mark Madsen, the Lakers’ summer league coach, to play the 6-foot-9-inch Nance at both forward spots and maybe even at center against a smaller lineup.

There’s no doubt about the 6-5 Russell’s position, and Kupchak is eager to watch the former Ohio State All-American.

“This is his first introduction to the next level, and there’s going to be a lot of expectations and interest,” Kupchak said. “To me, the important thing is that he try to execute what the coaches teach and stay in touch with what we do and just go out and compete.

“D’Angelo likes to pass. If he just runs the show, we’ll be happy.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.