Laker Nation

Several small noteworthy notes from today's Lakers' Media Day.

Center has gone from a project to a monster, and now he is expected to be a force for years in L.A.

The draft choice that may have saved the Lakers took some guts and a lot of luck.

Phil Jackson says he plans to reduce the 30-year-old Bryant's minutes this season, and suggests Odom could end up coming off the bench if he struggles at small forward spot.

Luke Walton will be blogging for NBA.com this season to share some thoughts and insights with you.

With both Sun and Mbenga locked in for the year - and with forward Josh Powell guaranteed $200,000 of his deal - the Lakers have 14 players who are all but set in stone for opening night.

Recent rumblings have suggested that the LA Lakers are toying with the idea of sending starting Power Forward Lamar Odom to the bench. There are several considerations that recommend this move, but probably the biggest issue would be deciding who would start in Odom's spot.

The Lakers open the regular season against Portland, providing the first glimpse of a big man matchup theoretically poised to entertain for years. While Oden offered praise for Drew ("He does everything a good post guy is supposed to do"), I got the vibe that an "Oden-Bynum" analysis was a little cart ahead of the horse in his mind.

In a now-it-can-be-told admission, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak acknowledged that the trade late last season that brought forward-center Pau Gasol to the Lakers resulted in the Lakers giving up less than the Memphis Grizzlies originally sought.

Lead guard Brandon Heath got noticed when Kupchak was looking for a big man.

The Los Angeles Lakers head into the 2008-09 season with far greater expectations than they did a year ago at this time.

If you want to see the NBA's top teams at Staples Center, be prepared to pay top dollar. The Lakers, following the lead of a number of other teams in other sports, announced that they have instituted a new variable ticket pricing policy for the upcoming season.

New trade rumor from Hoopsworld.com - Miller/Collins from Minnesota for the Lakers Lamar Odom.

I’ve always considered myself to be fair when it comes to criticism and praise. As my subordinates at work will tell you, I hold them to a very high standard, yet I praise them to no end when they perform well, and I critique them equally when they’re not up to par.