Luke Walton could be out for the season

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Lakers are happy to have additional depth at small forward, signing free agent Matt Barnes to a two-year contract Thursday. Unfortunately, the arrival of Barnes in Los Angeles only highlights serious questions surrounding the health of Luke Walton heading into next season.

Walton was limited to a career-low 29 games during the 2009-10 regular season because of back problems debilitating enough to require surgery. General manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday that Walton will work through the summer to rehabilitate and build strength in his back but acknowledged the prospect of future surgery still exists, and even that Walton could miss the 2010-11 season.

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"Absolutely. It's a possibility," Kupchak said. "It's not your run of the mill type back problem. We don't know where it's going to end up. He's a gamer and he loves to play. He wants to be a part of the team, and he'll do whatever it takes to get back on the court. That's a positive, to have the kind of player that's motivated to get well. That's not always the case."

By Brian Kamenetzky ESPNLosAngeles.com

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Not exactly sure what type of back injury this is but it sounds very serious. Luke has his faults on the court, like always trying to make the assist thus making himself easier to read from a defensive standpoint but he is a heady and underappreciated asset to the team. With that said , he is overpayed and it sounds like the Lakers want to urge him into retirement or not playing(insurance?) for mostly financial reasons ( I'm sure they dont want to see him wreck himself for life either).

Good thing they picked up Barnes last Thursday and I wouldn't be surprised if Ebanks gets signed for a little more depth at the position even though it's not needed with Kobe or Lamar being able to slide to the SF role. I think they would be crazy not to sign him since he should have gone in the 1st round and now comes with the budget 2nd round draft pick price. It's looking pretty likely for Caracter as well since he has also been a summer league standout and while short at 6'9 shows to have some good offensive game and a nose for the boards.

I'm amazed to see that a draft pick actually has the chance to make the team this season, let alone two draft picks. I don't think they can afford not to keep these kids and gain some extra youth to an aging team.

MATT BARNES AND THEO RATLIFF COMING TO LAKERTOWN

Good news Laker fans, as I was writing an article about the possibility of Matt Barnes coming to LA (if the Cavs didn't offer more money) and looking up the figures of the cavs offer, I noticed that Matt has already agreed to take the rest of the vets minimum of 1.77 million. It will be a two year deal, with the second year being a player option at nearly 2 million.

Barnes turned down a deal with the Cavs for nearly twice the paycheck to play on the biggest stage in the NBA with the Lakers and help chase a third consecutive championship. "It's official," Barnes wrote on his Twitter account Thursday night. "I am a Los Angles (sic) Laker. This is a dream come true!!!"

Barnes averaged 8.8 points and 25.9 minutes a game last season for Orlando, his seventh team since leaving UCLA in 2002. Earlier this week, he appeared to be headed to Toronto for two years and $9 million as part of a sign-and-trade transaction, but the deal fell through.

The Lakers now have 11 players under contract next season, not including second-round draft picks Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter, who played relatively well this month on the Lakers' summer league team and could round out the roster. NBA teams must carry at least 13 players.

Barnes and Bryant are believed to be on good terms these days, but it wasn't that way when they played each other a few weeks after the All-Star break. Bryant missed a last-second 20-footer that would have sent the game to overtime and then chuckled three times in a 10-second span afterward when asked about Barnes' in-game behavior. "It's entertaining," he said.

As reporters asked Ron Artest what he thought of Barnes, Lamar Odom yelled out from across the locker room that Barnes was "a monkey" who "picked the right game to act tough." Odom then compared Barnes to pro wrestling's Ric Flair, known for whipping up crowds with his antics.

Meanwhile, the Lakers quietly added another defensive presence by picking up the 37-year-old Ratliff.

Next season will be the 16th for Ratliff, who began his career with Detroit in 1995, when Andrew Bynum was 8 years old.

"I've had a long and very rewarding career, and joining a storied and legendary franchise such as the Lakers adds an even more special element," Ratliff said in a statement, adding that he hoped to help his new team "win a third straight championship."

Ratliff didn't do much with San Antonio most of last season, averaging 1.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 21 games, though he posted better numbers after being traded in February to Charlotte, where he started 26 of 28 games and averaged 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots in 22.3 minutes.

Defense has always been Ratliff's specialty: He has averaged 2.4 blocked shots in his career and led the league three times in the category.

"Theo has long been considered to be one of the best defensive big men in the league," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "Together with Bynum, [ Pau] Gasol, Odom and Artest, he gives us a formidable and deep front line."
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As a die hard Laker fan, I am very pleased to finally hear some more good news after the Steve Blake signing. I have probably been checking the headlines five times a day since free agency became open in early July.

The acquisition of Barnes will add yet another tough defender to the already strong laker lineup.
He has just been an average 3 point shooter at around 32% but I suspect that could go up some with all the open looks he shall be seeing due to the inside out game of the lakers and the need for most teams to double or triple the black mamba Kobe Bryant.

Theo Ratliff adds another guy known for his defensive prowess and at one time was probably the best shot blocker in the league. He's getting up there in age but should prove to be a valuable role player coming off the bench for the Lakers.

Props goes out to Mitch and Doc Buss for puttin in work and bringing the roster to 11. Stay tuned for any updates regarding the next two to four roster spots( if the lakers decide to go over the required 13)

Article sited from the L.A. Times
broderick.turner@latimes.com

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com