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Caracter already has started working out at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo and met Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown and newcomer Theo Ratliff. Ratliff, a veteran center, no doubt will get the job of schooling Caracter in the paint, and the rookie admits he has plenty to learn. 'I'm taking it one day at a time, getting up early, working out, paying attention,' he said.

The Lakers’ second round draft pick , Derrick Caracter, was able to fully guarantee the $473,000 in his contract for the 2010-11 season by meeting a weight incentive that required him to be 275 pounds or less.
In addition to the added contract bonus, Caracter credits his weight maintenance to changes in his dietary habits suggested by a nutritionist.

Another player who will be looking to give the No.1 pick of the 2010 draft pick a tough time is Derrick Caracter. This player was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the overall 58th pick and after playing in the Summer League with the Lakers, analysts say that this player showed potential of being the overall first round pick. Though this player is expected to make the bench of the Lakers, reports suggest that this player would be coming off the bench if he performs to the best of his abilities. And not only this, this player can very well compete for the starting line-up, if he performs the way he did in the Summer League and be a strong candidate in his pursue for the Rookie of the Year award.

MT: Let’s start with your respective first impressions of the Lakers having now been here for a little while working out:
Devin Ebanks: That everyone is a hard worker. Seeing Kobe in here every day early, for example, makes me want to work even harder. You know he’s put in a lot of work (already) in his career and to see him still doing that is (motivating).
Derrick Caracter: Same thing. With the vets, seeing guys like Kobe, Theo Ratliff and Derek Fisher … (Fisher) was out here yesterday working, looking like he was 17. Just seeing how the veterans take care of their bodies, and how guys who have been in the league for 14 years still going at that pace makes you as a rookie feel like you can’t take any days off, and that you have to bring the same amount of energy if not more.

MT: After the draft, GM Mitch Kupchak said that the two of you would join the Lakers Summer League team in Las Vegas, and then likely be invited to training camp. No contracts were signed at the time, and thus a roster spot wasn’t guaranteed. But clearly Kupchak and his staff liked how you both played in Vegas and what they saw in the weeks after, as both of you officially signed contracts in early August. Your thoughts at the time?
Ebanks: It was a great feeling, a dream come true really. Having a chance to be on the best team in the league is exciting, and I’m happy everybody on the staff thought that DC (Caracter) and I were suitable to play for the Lakers.
Caracter: As far as the whole draft process was concerned, I just kept my faith strong, and although I may have slipped a little bit,* you can’t worry about that. It doesn’t matter now, and I think everything happens for a reason. I feel to 58, but I fell to the back-to-back champions.
*Caracter was taken with the 58th overall pick, Ebanks the 43rd.

MT: As I understand it, you guys have been playing with or against each other since way back in the New York City surrounding area AAU circuit…
Ebanks: It’s been great coming in here with someone that I go back to high school days. We played on the same AAU team, and (when we were on opposing teams) I’d always see him in different tournaments around New York and New Jersey. Like he said, everything happens for a reason, and it’s a great feeling to have someone you grew up playing with come into the NBA with you.
Caracter: Yeah I’m from Jersey, but I played with Devin on the New York Panthers team. I also played at Riverside, and so did he, but I was gone from there by the time he got to Riverside. The AAU circuit is so tight, especially when it’s New York and New Jersey, especially for me because I was from New Jersey but on New York teams. I had gone from being a Nike kid to an Adidas kid, and a Long Island team was Adidas while the Nike team was Riverside.

MT: Yeah, I was a Nike guy. Not really. Anyways, being East Coast guys, what’s your initial take on L.A.?
Ebanks: It’s cool. It’s not like New York is in terms of hustle and bustle. It seems more laid back. But I haven’t gotten to do much yet, I’ve been pretty much just working out and playing basketball. Once I get acclimated, I’ll be interested to see what L.A. has to offer.
Caracter: I’ve been out a few times, checked out some improv, a little comedy show. I didn’t get on stage though … (the comedian) tried to crack some jokes on me but I just kept quiet. I’ve never really been a crazy West Coast guy, but L.A.’s cool. I’m going to enjoy myself and get adjusted to any place I go to, but I never want to forget that I’m here for one reason.

tupac-und-biggieMT: Speaking of East Coast - West Coast, we can transition easily over to hip hop. My first rap album in the mid 1990’s was Tupac’s “All Eyez on Me.” Tupac is from East Harlem, but also lived in Baltimore before later in high school moving to California…
Caracter: Tupac came out to the West Coast and people started claiming that he was a West Coast dude, but he’s from the East Coast. No matter what, I’m a Tupac guy. He’s my favorite.
Ebanks: I’m a Biggy man myself. No disrespect to Tupac, I just like Biggy more, I thought he was a better rapper.
Caracter: I used to have fights over that. ‘Pac was flowing too. Biggy was more smooth and cool (in his style), but I feel that numbers don’t lie. ‘Pac dropped how many albums vs. the two Big put out. I’m not saying Big wasn’t a great rapper, but it shows that ‘Pac was constantly in that booth. Acutally, the new Bun B album that just came out in 2010, ‘Pac has a verse on that album.

MT: Really? I remember Bun B from UGK (Underground Kingz), and the guest verse on Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin’”. What other artists do you listen to?
(Both): Lil’ Wayne, Drake, J. Cole, Young Jeezy, Common…
Caracter: Some old school R&B and classic soul too, and Jack Johnson.
Ebanks: DC has more of the old man in him, more of the soul. I’m more hip-hop.

MT: Derrick’s a big Lady Gaga fan too, right Devin?
Ebanks: (laughs)
Caracter: Nah, nah … (reconsiders) … actually I was on Lady Gaga for a little bit, but once everyone hopped on it too much, I wasn’t on it as much.

MT: Hey she’s pretty good … I saw Ron Artest at her first concert at Nokia Theatre across from STAPLES Center.
How about TV?
Ebanks: Just Sportscenter, if I’m watching TV it’s on ESPN.
MT: No “Mad Men,” “Friday Night Lights” or “True Blood,” Andrew Bynum’s favorite show?
Caracter: I don’t really watch TV. Once they came out with that NBA housewives show, I do not turn the TV on. Instead I read books and listen to music.

MT: Such as?
Caracter: I just read “Peaks and Valleys” by Spencer Johnson (M.D.). I also just got Phil Jackson’s book, “The Last Season,” from my agent.
Ebanks: Not really any reading for me.

MT: What do you (Ebanks) do in your free time besides listen to music?
Ebanks: I’ve been on Twitter a lot (@DevinEbanks3), you could call me a Twitterhead. I’ll be on my computer doing other things, but that’s about it.

MT: OK. Who’s stronger?
Ebanks: DC.
Caracter: (nods).
MT: Physically stronger, sure, but who wins in a fight?
Caracter: (laughs). We’d never fight, of course, and I’m not hating, but, I’ve got these hands…
Ebanks: I’m a lover, not a fighter. He can have it.
Caracter: I will say that skinny dudes can hit hard. I have a lot of friends at home like that, they have more bone and they connect, that can hurt.

MT: Nice. I’m not being unfair to say we can choose Ebanks in a foot race though, right?
Caracter: Well … I mean we can try it. I’m sure he’d get me, but he has to prove it.
Ebanks: (laughs)

MT: Better shooter?
Ebanks: I’m gonna have to take that rap for that one.
Caracter: He does shoot more jumpers than me.

MT: That’s OK, (Caracter has) the low post game. Finally, who’s funnier?
Ebanks: This dude right here. For real.
Caracter: (laughs)

laduane1 wrote:Until the rookies are officially on the team. I can not get to over hyped about them. Second round picks are the cheap way to go. Lakers can not be cheap as it will catch up to them someday. Got to have some young first rounders on the bench for the future. So we shall see. If they play 12 games all years and average 2 points and 2 rebounds each. Then I call it a waste of there time and the Lakers time.

laduane1 wrote:Until the rookies are officially on the team. I can not get to over hyped about them. Second round picks are the cheap way to go. Lakers can not be cheap as it will catch up to them someday. Got to have some young first rounders on the bench for the future. So we shall see. If they play 12 games all years and average 2 points and 2 rebounds each. Then I call it a waste of there time and the Lakers time.

laduane1 wrote:Until the rookies are officially on the team. I can not get to over hyped about them. Second round picks are the cheap way to go. Lakers can not be cheap as it will catch up to them someday. Got to have some young first rounders on the bench for the future. So we shall see. If they play 12 games all years and average 2 points and 2 rebounds each. Then I call it a waste of there time and the Lakers time.

"Going into my eighth grade year, they ranked me No. 1 (prospect in the nation)," he said. "I
stayed No. 1 until my junior year. That's when I let everything get into my head. I got cocky; big headed. I didn't work out too good and I got heavy. Even then, though, Lebron James was
ranked No. 1 and they had me at No. 5."

In 2006, CHN College Basketball followed the battle between Caracter and Greg Oden at the Reebok ABCD Camp in Hackensack, N.J., writing, "With the combination of his outside game
raining 3-pointers from beyond the arc and inside play, Character seemingly scored at will
against the bigger Oden.

"I had problems with the coach at the prep school and I didn't play that much and when I got
to Louisville, I weighed 320-pounds," he said, shaking his head. "I was just eating Chinese food
and doing unnecessary stuff."

crazyeights wrote:The only way Bynum/Caracter/Ebanks is a good core for a championship team is if Bynum turns into Kareem.

Actually...who are your best case scenarios for those three?

DEEP3CL wrote:These two cats get it.....you can sense it in just reading the way they react to questions. I sense a commitment from both, these are two diamonds in the ruff waiting to shine. Our future is looking damn good.......damn good for real.

hihaters08 wrote:Boozer

hihaters08 wrote:Boozer

LApwnd wrote:

hihaters08 wrote:Boozer

I say Milsap myself....Boozer while a paint player doesn't do well against lengthy defenders, I dont see Milsap being hindered much when guarded by taller guys, Caracter scored pretty well against the bigger/taller Cousin as well in summer leagues.

iki4life wrote:hope they turn out well....pick no. 43 and 58 are very very deep in the draft, so im not gona bank my money it, but hope stuff turns out well for them. seems like they get along with eachother real well.