HoopsHype.com Rumors

Days before Love made his debut with pro beach volleyball player Hans Stolfus on Thursday at the Manhattan Beach Open, Walton predicted to The Times' Melissa Rohlin that Love was "going to struggle." They had played together with Jordan Farmar and Richard Jefferson recently on the NBA-themed beach volleyball team at a popular six-on-six amateur tournament in Manhattan Beach. But Walton argued that would hardly translate into competing against pro volleyball players. "No disrespect to Kevin; he's a great athlete," Walton stressed. "But those guys play at a high level. Kevin doesn't play much. He can play a little bit, but at that level, he's going to struggle a little bit." When asked whether Love was the Charles Barkley of beach volleyball, Walton responded, "You can say that. He only played a couple of points on our team. He looks like he can play a little bit, but it's the difference between someone who plays basketball at the rec center and someone who plays in the NBA. He's trying to play professional volleyball against guys that do it for a living." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Luke Walton 

"They're not going to win any games at Memphis with him coaching the team," Love said in a joking manner. "It was a terrible hire and bad investment in Luke. I'm sure they'll realize when the lockout is still looming, that they're going to want that thing to end so he's out of there when the time comes." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Luke Walton 

He’s certainly no NBA labor expert, but University of Memphis coach Josh Pastner does have a deeply vested interest in the length of the NBA lockout after hiring Lakers forward Luke Walton to be a full-time Memphis assistant for as long as it lasts. Pastner calls it a “calculated risk” to bring Walton into his team’s inner circle when Walton conceivably could bolt very soon if the NBA season starts on time. “I think at least — minimum — we’re going to have him through December,” Pastner said in predicting the duration of the NBA work stoppage. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Lockout, Luke Walton 

Even though he's just 31 – the same age as Pau Gasol – Walton is being proactive in pursuing his post-playing life. Walton will start a new full-time job Saturday as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis for as long as the NBA lockout lasts. "Unfortunately, for every player there comes the end of his career," Walton said, "and it's just something I've been thinking about." Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Lockout, Luke Walton 

Mike Bresnahan: Strange days indeed. Because of the lockout, Luke Walton couldn't even tell Kupchak or Mike Brown of his new coaching job at U. of Memphis. Walton: "I guess they'll have to find out about it in the newspaper. But I'll be on that first flight to L.A. as soon as the lockout ends." Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton, Memphis University 

Tiger coach Josh Pastner announced Monday that Luke Walton, a member of the 2009 and 2010 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers (and Bill's son), has been recommended to join the Memphis men's basketball coaching staff. Walton’s hiring is pending approval by the U of M and Tennessee State Board of Regents. In a release, Pastner said, “Luke is going to bring great excitement and great energy to the Tigers program, and we’re thrilled to have him. Luke is someone who has not only played for but also learned from arguably one of the greatest coaches in basketball history in Phil Jackson. Luke’s also played with and against the best-of-the-best at the highest level of basketball in the NBA, including being a teammate of one of the NBA’s all-time greats in Kobe Bryant. Memphis Flyer

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Luke Walton 

Bryant and Derek Fisher, Lakers' captains last season, voted to give some of the playoff money to Bodaken and O'Keefe. Lakers reserve forward Luke Walton took an extra step after the season by providing individual financial gifts to members of the training staff. "They're a huge part of our team," said Walton, who did not specify how much he gave. "When they got laid off, this was a way to let them know that we appreciate them. It was something to help them through what was already a tough time." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton 

Luke Walton isn’t looking to play overseas if the NBA labor dispute drags into the fall and delays or cancels the 2011-12 season. In fact, he remains optimistic that the two sides will settle their differences and there will be a season. And if that’s the case, Walton plans on being in shape. The Lakers forward has been working with a shooting coach, who according to Walton, has his jump shot looking like Dallas star Dirk’ Nowitzki’s’ he said Thursday at Matt Barnes’ Athletes vs. Cancer charity event in Rancho Palos Verdes. He was dead serious. “It does,” he insisted. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Lockout, Luke Walton 

Was there any merit to reported possible Lamar Odom-Luke Walton-Andre Iguodala trade: According to a team official, the 76ers never had a conversation with the Lakers. LA-based agent Rob Pelinka "is trying to get Iguodala traded to his home city." Hence, the purported Chris Kaman-Iggy dialogue. New York Post

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Andre Iguodala, Trade, Lamar Odom, Chris Kaman, Luke Walton 

Minnesota rookie Derrick Williams, the No. 2 pick, has been advised by the Lakers' Luke Walton, another Arizona product, on what not to do when the lockout comes. "Luke told me, 'don't buy expensive things,'" Williams said. But he will make one exception. He plans on following through on his promise to buy his mom and sister a car. "I already have a car," he said. "Everything else can wait." Good strategy, with players thinking the owners will vote for a lockout Tuesday in Dallas at the Board of Governors meeting. The CBA expires Thursday at midnight, and both sides remain far apart after another unproductive bargaining session Friday. New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, CBA, Lockout, Luke Walton, NBPA, Derrick Williams 

Luke Walton said the packed road arenas the Los Angeles Lakers played in this season suggest the league's popularity is at a high point, and he's most concerned about how fans would respond if the labor issues aren't resolved and cause a delay to the start of the next season. "The idea of the lockout and losing fans is probably the scariest thing of all," the eight-year veteran said. "Even moreso than missing games or losing out on your salary for however long you lose those games, it's losing the fan support because it's at an all-time high right now." USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, CBA, Lockout, Luke Walton, NBPA 

Walton joined co-captains Bryant and Derek Fisher as the third Lakers player in the past two months to go on record endorsing Brian Shaw to be promoted from assistant coach to Jackson's successor. "If we keep the triangle, I don't see where you go from anywhere but Coach Shaw," Walton said. "I don't see who else you hire from the outside that you're going to bring in to run the triangle. ... Obviously everyone on the team knows the triangle very well and we've had a lot of success with it." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Luke Walton 

Luke Walton: I think our execution of the triangle was not at the same level its been over the past few years, as far as picking teams apart. It was basic this year, a lot of simple aspects of the offense, not the second and third and counter options that make it so hard to guard especially in a playoffs series, when everyone else runs sets and we know what sets they’re running, where they’re going to go. With us, no matter what you do defensively, there’s always a counter to counter that. We never got into that too much this year. I think with just being a little more sharp offensively, and if we do keep the same defense, having that much more time starting it in training camp. It was a complex defense, and it took all five people (being) on the same page. I think just being more aware of that and offensively (paying) more attention to the details .. there’s no reason this team can’t win another championship if not two.” Lakers.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton 

Mike Trudell: Luke Walton: “If we keep the triangle (next year), I don't see where we'd go other than Coach Shaw.” Twitter

Luke Walton 

One of Jackson’s players, however, doesn’t share his coach’s opinion. Luke Walton is rooting hard for the Kings to move. He, too, has personal motives. “We can only hope,” Walton said. “We’d get to go to Anaheim instead of Sacramento.” Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, Luke Walton, Gavin Maloof, Anaheim 

If there is anyone on the Lakers who clearly understands this, it is Luke Walton. His parents, Bill and Susie, raised Walton and his three brothers in an environment that would have passed for the '60s. There was a teepee in the yard and, often enough, members of the Grateful Dead in the house. Walton, who has a tattoo on his right shoulder of skeletons balancing basketballs on their index fingers -- an ode to one of The Dead's icons -- had never heard of Stanley. But he had met Timothy Leary. Walton said there was "absolutely" a link between the values he grew up with and the ones Jackson imbues in his teams. "The whole idea of community and family, and having each others' backs," Walton said. "We do a lot of similar things with our team that I think relate to that whole hippy style -- community, and an all-for-one type of lifestyle. Even though today's game is more related to the urban, hip-hop lifestyle, a lot of the same qualities Phil believes in are what we do out here, whether we know it or not." FoxSportsWest.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton 

Ron Artest is struggling and his trade value is low, considering he is 31 years old and has three more years after this for a total of $21.8 million. Luke Walton, who turns 31 next month, has two more years and $11.5 million. Oft-injured center Andrew Bynum has two more years and $31 million, though the second year is a team option for $16.1 million. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton 

Bill Walton encouraged Luke Walton to retire in the summer rather than risk a similar future of agony. Luke Walton refused. This is ... so hard. "No parent wants to see their child suffer and how that changes your life. Basketball is a glorious celebration of life, of health, of everything that's good, and there is no better example of that than what Shaq is going through right now with the Boston Celtics and how much the Celtics will mean to Shaq now and for rest of his life, and how much fun it's going to be on that last long run. "You want that," Bill said. "You want that for everybody, to have the end be so great, and you really want it for your children." NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton, Bill Walton 

Walton's father responded with a message, words from a loved one: Retire. Basketball is a passion, but it's not life. "Any parent would do everything to take pain, suffering, frustration, disappointment and loss out of their children's lives," Bill said. "I want what's best for Luke." Luke: "His concern, obviously, as my father, he doesn't want me to have it go as far as he went, where he was miserable and all that stuff that went on with him. His advice was health is more important than basketball. But I wasn't willing to live with that advice. I had to do everything I could first. I think I found a solution that will let me continue to play." NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton, Bill Walton 

Bill: "I don't want to see him in pain. I don't want to see the long-term ramifications." Luke admits his father encouraged him to think about the future: "And I wasn't OK with that." NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton, Bill Walton