Saturday, July 1, 2006 With Evans in fold, Lakers turn to BanksBy KEVIN DING The Orange County Register Detroit Pistons' Maurice Evans (5) heads downcourt with Cleveland Cavaliers' Zydrunas Ilgauskas, from Lithuania, in pursuit during the second quarter of a second-round NBA playoff basketball game May 15, 2006, in Cleveland. Detroit traded Evans to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, for the rights to Cheick Samb, a 7-1 center from Senegal. Samb had been taken with the 51st pick.TONY DEJAK, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EL SEGUNDO Fast running out of spots on next season's 15-man roster, the Lakers were willing to take on another guaranteed contract in the form of Maurice Evans because he offers a boost in both categories where Phil Jackson has requested upgrades: speed and defense."I feel like my game can be suited for this team," said Evans, acquired from Detroit for a second-round draft pick.The Lakers plan to add one more guard with quick feet and fast hands via the free-agent market. The Lakers want it to be Marcus Banks, the 6-foot-2 guard they briefly acquired from Boston in 2004.The Lakers hope to get Banks for less than the full mid-level salary-cap exception worth $5million next season and for no more than a two-year deal."Are there players out there that deserve the mid-level? Yeah, there are a couple guys," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "But I don't know if we'll end up using it."The Lakers have another cap exception of $1.65million but don't plan to add more than one proven player. Even with Devean George, Slava Medvedenko and Jim Jackson not expected back, the Lakers have 12 players relatively assured of being on the team. The free-agent guard the Lakers sign will get another spot. They are high on Laron Profit and Ronny Turiaf, which would take the roster to 15 - meaning Devin Green, Von Wafer and second-round pick J.R. Pinnock face an uphill battle to make the team.Evans was available because Detroit wanted to develop Carlos Delfino as its backup swingman, and Evans appreciates the Pistons letting him go. He averaged 14.2 minutes in 80 games last season - not enough, in his opinion, to show the skills that made him the Eurobasket All- League Player of the Year in 2003-04."For me to dominate on that level, I feel like I shouldn't have to defer when I come to the NBA," Evans said.Like Evans, Banks has had limited NBA opportunities. When Gary Payton initially refused to report to Boston in a 2004 trade, the Lakers amended the deal and settled for Jumaine Jones instead of Banks, costing the Lakers what Kupchak described as Banks' "incredible skills and athletic ability."Banks averaged 12 points and 4.7 assists in 40 games for Minnesota and displayed outstanding defense.thats basically all they can give banks if the lakers can pull this off mitch kupchak has really turned around his reputation in a good way not to mention with banks here that would just be awsome
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo061 @ Jul 1 2006, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Was this article wrtitten up after or before the vlad signing? It says July 1st but at what time.</div>not really sure but i just re-read it and it says the lakers will only go after one more proven player and radmonovic might be who they are talking about SOURCE
