After suffering the 45th loss of the season at the hands of the rival San Antonio Spurs, head coach Mike D’Antoni could only say more of the same in post-game interviews.
Despite battling through one of the most disappointing seasons in Lakers history, D’Antoni did has some positive comments for second-year center Robert Sacre. Apparently, D’Antoni has been impressed by Sacre’s work ethic according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Mike D'Antoni says he thinks Robert Sacre's been the hardest working guy on the team this season.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) March 20, 2014
As one of the few players under contract for next season, Sacre will have an opportunity to continue to improve over the course of the off-season. Many believe Sacre is still sorely lacking in his overall game, but he’s been praised for his defensive efforts and has received playing time over Chris Kaman and Jordan Hill as a result.
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Along with Sacre, Kobe Bryant, Kendall Marshall and Steve Nash are the only players with deals heading into the 2014-15 NBA season. A few other players on the roster might also stick around, but Sacre will likely still be on the roster next season.
As for Kaman, Hill and Pau Gasol, all three players will become unrestricted free agents and aren’t expected to return. Kobe believes there’s a good chance Gasol re-signs, but all indications appear to be pointing to his departure via free agency this summer.
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VIDEO: How Does Robert Sacre Feel About Earning Minutes Over Chris Kaman?