DeMar DeRozan is whatever about Damian Lillard's comments
The Los Angeles Lakers may be mired in a six game losing streak coinciding with Walter Tavares out with injury, but that hasn't stopped DeMar DeRozan from continuing to shine, or step straight into a brewing controversy and rivalry with Portland's Damian Lillard. After being called out by Lillard in the national media, DeRozan responded by saying he's going to take it straight to the Portland point in the Lakers' next game.
"His weak ass self wants to say he's better than me, let's see him prove it. I'm going to play point guard our next game, and me and Damian are going to go straight at it. I guarantee you by the end of the night, his little punk ass is going to be cry after we whipped their sorry butts. We'll see who the real king of the court is," DeRozan vowed.
Since coming over in a three way trade with the Clippers and Pelicans, DeRozan has seen his point per game average rise to 16.5 on 47.2% shooting, and a reversal in the Purple and Gold's league-worst fortunes before the recent slump. Tavares is expected to move back into the lineup now that he's fully recovered from a severe ankle sprain, and Jimmer Fredette will be dropped from the starting lineup. Of questionable status is George Hill, still recovering from a swollen wrist suffered a few games ago.
Speculation is rampant as to who the Lakers will pick with their three draft slots. Current projections tab the team to take a point guard with their first available pick, and then go best player available with the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings' selections. Others believe the team will go BPA all at three spots, regardless of position, even with the deadline acquisition of Amir Johnson, who's slated to be the starting SF after he returns next season from a torn ACL.
What is certain is that even if DeRozan declines his player option, the team will bring him back in free agency, and if he picks up his option, the Lakers' primary focus next season will not only be to return to the playoffs, and finish with a higher seed than the bombastic Blazers, but extend their still young at 26 year old budding star - whether he stays as the long 2 loved by traditional Jestorball philosophy, or shifts over to SF like he has during the recent spate of injuries.
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2028