Jones makes a splashy Lakers debut in his bid for longer deal
Last season was a nightly lob fest. This year, the Lakers tend to play a little closer to Earth.
That style, however, had a pleasant interruption on Sunday evening, as Damian Jones checked in for his first minutes as a Laker and threw down an alley-oop from Dennis Schröder in the third quarter.
In just eight minutes, Jones helped show the Lakers other things they’d been missing, including three rebounds and two blocks. Though he’s been on the team for three days, Jones’ first minutes had the feeling of a missing link being uncovered.
“I think he’s got a shot to be here if he can just do what he did out there,” said Kyle Kuzma.
The 6-foot-11 Louisiana native had only a short stint that was cut unceremoniously short. He left in the fourth quarter with back stiffness that the Lakers are monitoring day-to-day. But it gave something for the team, which has lacked for shot-blocking and a vertical lob threat, to think about.
Jones’ contract only runs up to the All-Star break, and the Lakers will be pressed to give him time in the final back-to-back games against Phoenix and Sacramento to see if he’s worth a longer deal. His back is the X-factor in that opportunity.
But the 25-year-old said (and showed) he’s prepared to play hard with the limited glimpses he can get.
“Of course there’s pressure,” Jones said. “But you got to live up to the moment, try to perform your best, know what you can do and go out and perform.”
Jones most recently could not crack the rotation in Phoenix behind DeAndre Ayton and Frank Kaminsky -not exactly a flattering portrait of his play five years into his NBA career. But Jones also has a reputation as a good teammate and hard worker, and already has two championship rings with him name on them from his Warriors years.
Alfonzo McKinnie is a former teammate at Golden State, who Jones looked very good against scoring eight points. Alex Caruso went against him for a few years when Jones played at Vanderbilt and has respect for his path through the G League.
The Lakers have had success with new centers Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell, but neither acts as an abovethe-rim lob-catcher, and neither is a prolific shot-blocker. After a season of Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee helping lead the Lakers in blocks last season, it’s an obvious hole.
The newcomer, who sped from Phoenix to Los Angeles by rental car on Thursday, said everyone on the Lakers has been encouraging. But Markieff Morris said he was one of the players keeping up a dialogue with Jones since he arrived.
“I’m telling him to stay with this team, to have an impact with this team we have to hear you on the court defensively, we need you to jump at everything at the rim, and we need you to catch lobs. That’s pretty much all we don’t have.”
Davis gets in some shooting before Sunday night’s game
While nothing has changed about Anthony Davis’ return from a right calf strain, the Lakers’ star was spotted before Sunday’s game doing some light shooting in a pre-game workout. The team has put caution first when it comes to Davis, who is expected to rest at least another two weeks before returning to the starting lineup.
Davis won’t be participating in the upcoming All-Star weekend due to his injury.
“It’s just light shooting,” coach Frank Vogel said. “We’re still on track for the four-week plan.”