This really makes me happy, I knew he could do it he just had to prove himself. I will be cheering him on
I read somewhere that D-League players have salaries ranging between $12,000 to $24,000 a season. They usually get $30 a day for meals. A lot of those guys will jump at the chance to get a better deal overseas if they can't get to the NBA - like Mitchell did by going to Germany.
It looks like that move paid off for him.
I think he has a shot to be a contributor with the Lakers. Phil Jackson has always liked big guards who can defend, handle the ball and score in the triangle offense (Jordan, Pippen, Kobe, Ron Harper, Gary Payton, etc.), and Mitchell seems to fit that same mold.
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/08080...hell_sign.html
Dwayne is very aggressive on d and unselfish on offense. The Lakers will be a good fit for him. With Lamar Odom, Paul Gasol in the middle and the return of Bynum, Dwayne can stay aggressive on the wing and then on offense he can just rebound and put back everything Kobe throws up. You know Kobe gonna shot it over 60% of the time anyways so having a big rebounding guard ain't gonna hurt.
Not really a Laker fan (Michigander by birth for those that don't Know) but I am happy for Mitchell to have an opportunity in the big time.
The Lakers always seem to go after free agents most fans have never heard of. Unless you followed the D-League last year, you probably don’t know Mitchell. He’s a strong off-guard who will ride the bench. Here’s more info:
The rest of the story
insidehoops.com
No --don't know gender but I would offer now regardless -----What year will the matriculation be to UL??????? lol!!!!
The Lakers signed free agent Dwayne Mitchell out of the NBDL. The former Louisiana-Lafayette star had played for the Lakers summer league entry and averaged 6.7 points per game in 15 minutes of action per game. Mitchell is a very athletic 6’2 guard, who is as strong as an ox. He weighs in at around 215 and has the build of an NFL running back.
The terms of Mitchell’s deal were undisclosed, and he will need a strong pre-season just to make the club. Skill wise, Mitchell is the kind of slashing player that is always taking the ball to the hoop. He’s strong enough to bully smaller guards down low, but lacks the jumper to keep them honest. He has a nice FG%, but his free throws and three point shooting need vast improvement. He’s like a smaller Corey Maggette that shoots bricks from the outside. He also does a great job of going to the rack and using his strength to ward off contact and finish, sometimes using multiple head and shot fakes to do so. This will be more difficult with the increased athleticism he will face in the pros, but the guy is simply put, a pure athlete.
Dwayne Mitchell: 6′5, 210 pounds, and carved from granite, Mitchell wins the best physique contest until Bynum unveils his new buff bod, I guess. After posting Josh Smith-esque numbers at Louisiana-Lafayette, Mitchell has played internationally and in the Developmental League.
He began dominating the DLeague last season, posting great scoring and rebounding numbers. He played incredibly well for LA’s Summer League team. In my opinion, he was the best player on the team. He is a slasher, but although he cannot hit his Free Throws, he can probably get to the line better from the arc than anyone on this team except Kobe.
Strengths: Incredible athlete, incredibly strong, great attacker, picture perfect defensive tools, very good rebounder.
Weaknesses: Poor ball handler, suspect jumper, poor FT shooter, doesn’t move his feet enough on defense.
Outlook: If Mitchell makes the team, I would be giddy at the thought of him and Ariza holding down the 2 and 3 spots on the second team for defensive purposes. He needs to ride his athleticism and passion to impress by defensive work, attacking, and rebounding throughout training camp. If he does this, he’s a Laker. As many will point out, however, there are reasons he has not been in the NBA (one of those was an apparently misdiagnosed heart condition that kept him from being drafted).
Verdict: Mitchell is best suited for playing the SG or SF spot, but the Lakers are so stacked there, his natural position counts against him. That said, defense and attacking are two skills in short supply on this team. He is a coinflip away from being off the team, it seems.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)