<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers have been looking to sign a veteran guard, and they may find one by picking up a lucky ?Penny.? Anfernee ?Penny? Hardaway, who was nicknamed Penny by his grandmother, played his first game of the season in the Summer Pro League with the team L. Smith and Associates and said he wants to join the Lakers. ?My agent has talked to the Lakers,? said Hardaway, a free agent. ?They?re probably my first choice. I would love to play for the Lakers. Right now hopefully I will get a chance to meet with them while I?m here [in Los Angeles]. We?ll see what happens.? Ronnie Lester, the Assistant General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, confirmed the dialogue between Hardaway?s agent and the team. ?We talked to his agent,? Lester said. ?[Penny] is trying to get back into the league, so [the agent] called and said [Penny] is playing out here, and that is basically it.? Hardaway, who went to college at Memphis, is 6?7? and will turn 35 on July 18. Over his career, he averaged 15.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds; however, he has had knee problems in recent years, and he hasn?t averaged double figures in points since the 2002-2003 season. In 34 minutes of play at the Summer League Wednesday, Hardaway had 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Despite being a rebound and an assist away from a triple-double, Hardaway didn?t think he played his best. ?I got in late last night, at about midnight,? he said. ?I came in from Memphis. It was a tough game for me because I?m on East Coast time.? Hardaway enjoys playing in the summer league to stay in shape during the summer and to play against new competition. However, this season Hardaway has a new objective. ?I?ve been playing in this [summer] league a while,? Hardaway said. ?All of the other seasons, I?ve been with a team, but now I?m a free agent, so I came into this league to show teams I can still play, and to support this league also.? On L. Smith and Associates, Hardaway plays with fellow NBA veteran Bo Outlaw. Outlaw had 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists on Wednesday. ?That?s my guy. Bo Outlaw? I?ve known Bo since college,? said Hardaway. ?We?ve been together a long time. We have a good friendship, and it?s always good having him on the court with me.? Having pros such as Hardaway and Outlaw on the court provides a good opportunity for less experienced players to test their skills, and they relish their chance. ?Young players, they?re athletic and try to see what I have,? Hardaway said. ?I?m putting my game on the line against younger guys.? In other Summer League news, the Lakers defeated the Mavericks 99-87. Jordan Farmar and Marcus Douthit sat out the game. Playing the second day of back-to-back games, Andrew Bynum appeared tired, and scored only two points and gathered five rebounds after a 24 point and seven rebound effort Tuesday. Second round Lakers pick Danilo Pinnock dunked the ball so hard the basket came down. Marcus Slaughter from San Diego State had two blocks on one possession in the win.</div> First of all, I don't know how reliable this source is. I wouldn't mind this signing. It'd obviously be for the vet. minimum, and I think he'd bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the team. I also think he'd be able to produce IF he could stay healthy. http://thesportsgod.thesportsmonitor.net/i...id=86&Itemid=39
As long as we get him cheap, why not? But you gotta ask yourself if he will even be able to play any too...
Why? He's not good any more, what can he possibly add to our team, he will be injured once again, no doubt. plus havent we allready got a big, old, injured and crap point gaurd in McKie?
I wouldnt mind him on the Lakers. I was a huge fan of the Orlando team he was on. (anderson, scott, penny, Shaq, and grant) It was never the same after the rash of injuries though. If he's willing to play for the league minimum or something the Lakers can manage without sacrifice, I would not mind him on the Laker roster at all.
No, because that would mean another roster spot wasted. Sign him for a non guarenteed contract and let him battle it out in training camp. We already have basically no space left on our roster for guys like Laron Profit
If he came to the team, he could relate to Kobe.... both having to deal w/ a jealous Shaq... lol j/k. I don't know about this signing, he might be just dead weight on the bench soaking up cap money.
I wouldn't take him. He has proven that he really doesn't care anymore as he happily took his 15 million without playing at all. He didn't really complain about not playing, so I just don't think he still has the fire. He should just retire right now and live with his stolen money.
Well, I wouldn't really mind Penny, since the LLE really isn't that much money. He could bring in leadership and help guys like Farmar and Smushy poo progress. But the only thing is, if we sign him, we will have what, 16 players under contract? We still need space for guys like Pinnock, and plus, we still haven't signed Profit
He could be a good mentor, but why is he playing ball still in low level leagues? i think he has enough money
I've watched Penny Hardaway the last three years when he was with the Knicks and let's just say he's not close to what he used to be... at all. If the Lakers want to sign him, it must be as a locker room leader or an influential veteran off the court. Something along those lines because when it comes to on-court production, he won't be of service. Also, you have to take into consideration how injury prone tommorow is his birthday (just like me) and he's turning 35. The past two seasons he's played a combined 41 games and only 4 games last season. So obviously he's not very reliable at all. To his credit, he's still a smart player being a veteran and all, but what's 5 minutes of smart basketball compared to a free roster spot and a little more money? It's not really worth it. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">i think he has enough money</div> He just finished getting paid 16 million dollars last season. I think he has enough.
he opnly played 4 games last year cause larry brown didnt want to play him, then when he got traded the magics just waived him, but anyways he was a decent player off the bench for the knicks off the bench in those last 3 years hes not what he use to be but he stil has great knowledge, and can help out in the pg spot in crucial minutes
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">he opnly played 4 games last year cause larry brown didnt want to play him, then when he got traded the magics just waived him, but anyways he was a decent player off the bench for the knicks off the bench in those last 3 years hes not what he use to be but he stil has great knowledge, and can help out in the pg spot in crucial minutes</div> Yes, but he was also injured for some of the time he was in New York, you're right though. I forgot Brown refused to play him. Still, Hardaway is not NBA material. He belongs in that minor league he is playing with.
Forget about Penny..I'm liking the dunking the ball and pullign down rim..lol...our rookie did that?! man.... lol anyways Penny would be nice at a cheap price, but I doubt he would play..we need a big man now IF we do plan to trade Cook or Mihm
I love Penny, I'd love to see him on the Lakeshow. Even though injuries stole his hops, i still think his passing is straight nasty.
I just don't see why the Lakers would waste cap space/spot space for someone like Penny. I mean, why not go after someone like Al Harrington? Harrington-Kobe combo sounds awesome.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spyware:</div><div class="quote_post">I just don't see why the Lakers would waste cap space/spot space for someone like Penny. I mean, why not go after someone like Al Harrington? Harrington-Kobe combo sounds awesome.</div> Because Harrington is the same as Lamar Odom, we don't need two tweaners on the team. Harrington doesn't bring the experience, knowledge, or leadership that Penny would.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AKIRA:</div><div class="quote_post">Why? He's not good any more, what can he possibly add to our team, he will be injured once again, no doubt. plus havent we allready got a big, old, injured and crap point gaurd in McKie?</div> Penny Hardaway can bring so much more than Aaron Mckie. Thats if he is healthy. Still though, Penny would be useless. Rather keep Mckie if we want a vet. Penny is way past his prime, and can't do much anymore. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting TBM:</div><div class="quote_post">Because Harrington is the same as Lamar Odom, </div> , Harrington is no way like Odom. The Doom can pass and actually rebound. Odom also has longer range than Al.
The Lakers have 15 players right now, I'd rather develop Pinnock or Devin Green than take a flyer on Penny. The Lakers should be looking at other players before they get desperate to offer anything to Penny. Jumaine Jones or Laron Profit would be better options.
