Kendall Marshall and Ryan Kelly weren't names that attracted much attention a few months ago, but they’re starting to look like long-term pieces of the puzzle for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Management has both players signed to two-year, unguaranteed contracts. In other words, the Lakers hold the cards for a couple of bargain basement deals that are paying off right now.
To put things in perspective, it took injuries to Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar, Kobe Bryant and Xavier Henry to send management scrambling to find somebody to toss into the gaping hole. What they found was Marshall, a former draft bust who was lighting up the D-League.
As for Kelly, the 48th pick of the 2013 NBA draft was coming off foot surgery with an uncertain future. Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles:
The Lakers drafted Ryan Kelly in the second round primarily for his ability to stretch the floor with his long-range accuracy, but the team has been discouraged by the rookie's progress during the summer, according to multiple league sources. The Lakers doubt that Kelly, who missed summer league while recovering ...
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Article written by David Murphy
Can Kendall Marshall and Ryan Kelly Be Long-Term Pieces for Los Angeles Lakers?
January 21st, 2014 by David Murphy Leave a reply »
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