matt colvin
06-27-2008, 09:59 AM
Lakers select Kentucky guard Crawford
By Elliott Teaford elliott.teaford@dailybreeze.com Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 06/27/2008 04:07:30 AM PDT
The Lakers waited and waited, and then waited some more Thursday night.
Finally, after more than four hours, they made their one and only pick of the NBA draft, selecting Joe Crawford, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kentucky. Crawford was the 58th overall selection, the third-to-last pick in the draft.
"We did have Joe Crawford going higher in the draft," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "We did make efforts ... to move up in the draft. There was a flurry of activity, but we weren't able to get anything done."
Crawford averaged 17.9 points on 47 percent shooting in 30 games during his senior season at Kentucky, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He scored 20 or more points 13 times and topped 30 points three times.
"He had a great career," Kupchak said. "He's played a lot of basketball at a high level. We'd like to get him in as soon as possible. The summer league starts in about 10 days, and we'll evaluate him during our summer league program."
Crawford said he was eager to join the Lakers, and was looking forward to joining their summer league team, which begins play in Las Vegas on July 11.
"It's something you've waited for all your life, when you started playing basketball," he said. "To go to one of my favorite teams, to go to L.A., it's a feeling I can't explain. I had a great workout in L.A. I felt they were pretty interested in me after my workout. I'm excited about playing for a
championship-contending team."
Rest here:
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9714173?source=rss
By Elliott Teaford elliott.teaford@dailybreeze.com Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 06/27/2008 04:07:30 AM PDT
The Lakers waited and waited, and then waited some more Thursday night.
Finally, after more than four hours, they made their one and only pick of the NBA draft, selecting Joe Crawford, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kentucky. Crawford was the 58th overall selection, the third-to-last pick in the draft.
"We did have Joe Crawford going higher in the draft," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "We did make efforts ... to move up in the draft. There was a flurry of activity, but we weren't able to get anything done."
Crawford averaged 17.9 points on 47 percent shooting in 30 games during his senior season at Kentucky, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He scored 20 or more points 13 times and topped 30 points three times.
"He had a great career," Kupchak said. "He's played a lot of basketball at a high level. We'd like to get him in as soon as possible. The summer league starts in about 10 days, and we'll evaluate him during our summer league program."
Crawford said he was eager to join the Lakers, and was looking forward to joining their summer league team, which begins play in Las Vegas on July 11.
"It's something you've waited for all your life, when you started playing basketball," he said. "To go to one of my favorite teams, to go to L.A., it's a feeling I can't explain. I had a great workout in L.A. I felt they were pretty interested in me after my workout. I'm excited about playing for a
championship-contending team."
Rest here:
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9714173?source=rss
