When the Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, the team established a young core whom they feel could lead them into future success. Russell joined Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson on the roster and have many around the Lakers plenty of hope.
— Have you seen the ‘Bleed Purple and Gold’ phone case? —
The trio will have their first taste of action Friday when the Las Vegas Summer League kicks for the Lakers as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, they will go into the first set of games missing a player who finished last season on the Lakers roster and another young and underrated piece in Jabari Brown. According to Lakers.com’s Mike Trudell, Brown suffered an eye laceration and won’t be playing in team’s first two games:
Jabari Brown was poked in the eye yesterday and suffered a small laceration in the conjunctiva; expected to miss 1st 2 Summer League games.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 8, 2015
Brown impressed during a pair of 10-day contracts with the Lakers and earned himself a multi-year contract with the upcoming season non-guaranteed. He came to the Lakers after spending most of the season with the team’s Developmental League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders. In 19 NBA games, Brown averaged 11.9 points in 29.9 minutes.
While Brown missing time will hurt him, the team has plenty of talent on the rest of its Summer League roster. His absence should free up some minutes for other wing players such as Anthony Brown, the Lakers’ second round draft pick in the past draft.
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