Fewer minutes are almost a guarantee for Lakers

The small forward position is particularly crowded, with Kobe Bryant moving over for now to join Trevor Ariza, Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton.

It's not a bad problem, but, well, it's definitely lingering there for the Lakers -- too many players fighting for too few minutes.

There's a logjam at small forward, especially since Kobe Bryant shifted there from shooting guard to make room for Lamar Odom's move to the backcourt.

Even if Bryant played less than 38.9 minutes a game (his average last season), it would be hard to squeeze enough time out of the position for Trevor Ariza, Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton.

"As far as I've heard from the coaches, everybody is going to be playing shorter minutes," Radmanovic said. "So, we have to prepare mentally."

Walton averaged 7.2 points in 23.4 minutes a game last season. Ariza averaged 6.5 points and 18 minutes a game, and Radmanovic averaged 8.4 points and 22.8 minutes.  Walton has been sidelined while recovering from off-season ankle surgery and Radmanovic hasn't shown...read full article

Lakers center Chris Mihm is back healthy

After three surgeries and countless frustrating moments because of right ankle problems, he says he’s fit and ‘playing above the rim again.

There was a time when Chris Mihm was the Lakers' starting center, when he was athletic and mobile.

That was three years, three surgeries and countless frustrating moments ago.
Mihm is back healthy, his surgically repaired right ankle no longer an issue.

"I've been running around with a smile on my face," Mihm said. "That hasn't happened in two years."

Mihm, 29, missed the 2006-07 season and has played in just 82 games the last three seasons.

He twice had surgery on his right ankle, one reconstructive. He had surgery on his right heel. He underwent three weekly sonar-wave treatments last season and still felt persistent...read full article