Among the many issues plaguing the Los Angeles Lakers over the past several years, perhaps its most glaring was the absence of a big man to protect the paint. However, the purple and gold addressed those issues this offseason by signing Timofey Mozgov, while also drafting Ivica Zubac with the 32nd overall pick.
So it should be no surprise that the Lakers’ front office decided not to bring back center Robert Sacre this season, whose minimal contributions over the last four years left him as the odd-man out for minutes this season.
But it seems there is a team still interested in Sacre’s services as the former Gonzaga product has reached a training camp deal with the New Orleans Pelicans according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
The Pelicans are bringing former Lakers center Robert Sacre to training camp, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 11, 2016
Since being taken by the Lakers with the 60th and final pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Sacre averaged 4.2 points and and three rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game. One thing that remained constant with Sacre was his passion for the game, as he was often seen elaborately celebrating a bucket from Kobe, or a dunk from Nance.
He was often the subject of criticism and jokes amongst Lakers fans, but he was always spoken highly of by both the coaching staff and teammates. He was a great locker room presence and practice player who constantly worked hard and cheered on teammates during games.
Sacre was born in Baton Rouge and spent the first few years of his life there before moving to Canada so this is something of a return home for him. Whether or not he makes the Pelicans’ roster remains to be seen as they currently are at the maximum number of guaranteed contracts with 15. Sacre will have to really impress the team to make the final roster, but we wish him well in doing so.