After being nonexistent in Phil Jackson’s rotation during the 2010-11 NBA season, second-year forward Devin Ebanks was given an opportunity to prove his worth for new Lakers coach Mike Brown with a lot more time on the floor this past season.
With Brown testing the waters with his new team’s lineup, Ebanks was able to log some crucial minutes for the Lakers throughout the shortened regular season and during the NBA playoffs. Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes were considered the top two small forwards on the squad, but Ebanks may have made an impression on Lakers’ coaching staff over course of the last year or so that may have convinced the team to re-sign him long-term.
As for Ebanks, it appears there may be a mutual interest between the team and the 22-year-old in terms of remaining with the Lakers according to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register:
“They seemed pretty interested in me,” Ebanks said Tuesday after his meeting with Lakers coach Mike Brown and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Ebanks also said: “I’d definitely love to stay here in L.A. and continue my career here.”
As of July 1, Ebanks may become a free agent for the first time in his NBA career. Along with Ebanks possibly heading into free agency, Barnes’ future with the team may also be up in the air with the team weighing their options at small forward.
As of right now, World Peace continues to be in the team’s plans moving forward with two years left on his contract. There’s been talk of a World Peace potentially becoming a free agent this summer with the Lakers possibly considering using the amnesty clause on the veteran forward, but at this point it is uncertain what the team intends to do with the man formerly known as Ron Artest.