RealGM

The Lakers' affliated D-Fenders have hired former Lakers forward Luke Walton as a player development coach.

The Lakers drafted Walton in 2003 with the 32nd overall pick. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in March of 2012.

"I’m thrilled to be returning to the Lakers family," said Walton. "I’m looking forward to working with the staff to develop young talent that can benefit the D-Fenders and the NBA. The D-Fenders have a proven record of developing top-flight players, and I plan to continue that tradition."

"We are very excited to add Luke to our staff," said President/CEO Joey Buss in a Monday statement. "His championship experience will help build upon the winning culture that has been established with the D-Fenders. His extensive and successful NBA career will allow him to instill the work ethic it requires for our players to reach the NBA."

Walton won two titles with the Lakers, making four trips to the NBA Finals including the last run with Shaquille O'Neal in 2004.

"“Luke has been a consummate professional throughout his career," said D-Fenders General Manager Nick Mazzella. "Having played on two Lakers championship teams, Luke is aware of the hard work and type of culture required to win. He will be a valuable mentor to our players and will dedicate himself to improving their basketball skills and advancing their careers. We couldn’t be happier to have him join our talented coaching staff."

Last week the D-Fenders set their training camp roster, with a familiar name -- former Laker, and a teammate of Walton, Kareem Rush.

Rush (20th overall pick) was acquired on draft day in 2002 from the Toronto Raptors.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow ... z2jnXTwGkN

I'm calling it, Luke will be groomed and be the new Mitch.

I could see that... But it'd have to be a long way off. Luke doesn't strike me as hard-nosed enough to be a good GM.

Congrats Luke Walton

Hahaha he took Madsen's old job! That's how madsen became an assistant/development coach for us. he's following the same path of the "token white guy on lakers championships teams, bad player but high bball iq"

Kilroy wrote:I could see that... But it'd have to be a long way off. Luke doesn't strike me as hard-nosed enough to be a good GM.

Lukes seemed to be given a chance by La to learn and do everything. He did radio broadcasting. He did some assistant coaching work. He's done color commentary. He is even similar to Mitch in that he was a player who showed some promise but had his career reduced to a role guy with the lakers because of injuries. I wouldn't be shocked as they seem to be keeping him around, if they have him learn a little bit from Mitch like Mitch did from Lester and West. It think his ceiling is a gm and his likelihood of being a coach is high

Edrees wrote:Hahaha he took Madsen's old job! That's how madsen became an assistant/development coach for us. he's following the same path of the "token white guy on lakers championships teams, bad player but high bball iq"

Luke wasn't truly bad. He was a starter that was 10/5/4 on his career. He was the third best player on the team in Kobe's prime

Even though Luke gets ****, he really had a bigger role in title one than Bynum. If you remember the old series vs Utah, Bynum was benched, odom was started, and they put Luke on Millsap for large stretches. If you remember closing out Denver in game 6 with Ariza in foul trouble, Luke stepped up, held him in check, scored double digits, and even threw it down on the road. Yes him asking to be benched was big, but it was as much for the bench and Aliza's benefit as anything. Ariza and the bench weren't as potent without odom, and Luke helped facilitate. Even in the finals vs Orlando, the second unit still posted Pietrius using Luke to take his legs from him like they did Finley and Harpring in 08 (Luke balled vs Melo in 08 too).

I really do and don't get the hate. If we rank contributions to our time he was here. Luke was third in 06 and 07, as we were an over 500 team with him and under without him those two years starting. The next year in 08 he was right there with Farmar and Vlad behind Sasha, fish, Lamar, Pau, and Kobe. The next year he was the 6th guy in a tie with Shannon when we won a ring in 09. In 10 he was basically hobbled and couldn't contribute, but when we were in trouble vs Phoenix in the western conference finals, he was the guy who came in with the bad hip and back and dived on the floor for loose balls to ignite staples even though you saw the grimace on his face.

He also wasn't bad as a cav. In fact I'm glad for the guy last year as he got to play and didnt get hurt, much easier to go out on those terms

i remember at one point when Pjax still around, once Walton drew in strategy board for the Lakers, and players including Kobe hearing him seriously.

kblo247 wrote:I'm calling it, Luke will be groomed and be the new Mitch.

I think D-Fish would wiggle back into the Laker family before Luke gets that job. I could see Fish as a GM, but Luke is a good choice to groom.

Luuuke!!

Glad hes with us.