HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Lakers have three unrestricted free agents in Earl Clark, Antawn Jamison and Howard. The team can also make Darius Morris, Robert Sacre, Andrew Goudelock and Devin Ebanks restricted free agents in July. Ebanks isn't likely to get a qualifying offer from the team, which would make him unrestricted. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Devin Ebanks, Antawn Jamison, Earl Clark, Darius Morris, Andrew Goudelock, Robert Sacre 

Eric Pincus: Darius Morris said he would prefer to stay with Lakers, help make up down season, even if he's still behind Nash/Blake Twitter @EricPincus

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Darius Morris 

Before Saturday's practice, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak shared with the team a 30-second video on his cell phone that showed Bryant outlining how the Lakers could win their 17th NBA championship without their star because of a torn left Achilles tendon that will sideline him at least six to nine months. "It was classic Kobe with the way he inspired us," Lakers reserve guard Darius Morris recalled. "Mitch brought a video of him right before he went into surgery just telling us we know we have to do. Just go out there and get it done. " Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Darius Morris 

Darius Morris: Everybody pray for my brother @kobebryant Twitter @dariusmorris4

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries, Darius Morris 

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned Darius Morris and Robert Sacre to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers’ NBA Development League affiliate. Morris (6-4, 190, Michigan) has played in 42 games this season for Los Angeles, averaging 4.4 points, 1.7 assists and 1.2 rebounds. On Dec. 16, he tallied 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field in a 111-98 win over the 76ers. He appeared in one game on assignment last season for the D-Fenders and scored 21 points in a 99-98 win over the Dakota Wizards. RealGM

Los Angeles Lakers, D-League, Darius Morris, Robert Sacre 

Dave McMenamin: Only LAL trade chatter I've heard today is young guys who aren't playing - i.e. Morris & Ebanks - being shopped for 2nd rounders. Unlikely Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers offering Steve Blake, Chris Duhon, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris for 2nd-rounders, sources say. Looking to unload, free roster spots. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Chris Duhon, Devin Ebanks, Steve Blake, Darius Morris 

Arash Markazi: D'Antoni: "If I let Darius Morris shoot a 3, I'm certainly going to let Pau shoot a 3. He's a better shooter." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Mike D'Antoni, Darius Morris 

Gasol isn’t the only player the Lakers have explored moving, sources near the situation say the Lakers would like to open up a roster spot to add a new player or two so don’t be surprised if guys like Jordan Hill, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris or Darius Johnson-Odom are moved in exchange for a backup point guard or a second round draft pick in order to open a spot for the Lakers to sign one. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Devin Ebanks, Jordan Hill, Darius Morris, Darius Johnson-Odom 

Under typical circumstances, when a player signs as a free agent over the summer, they cannot be traded until Dec 15. Now that that date has been reached, the Lakers are now able to deal most of their free-agent acquisitions. This isn't to suggest the Lakers are actually looking to make any specific moves, but technically Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison are now trade eligible. Additionally, Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris can be dealt but under the strict rules of the league's collective bargaining agreement, both have the right to block any trade after signing one year-deals (with Bird or Early Bird Rights upon completion). Another wrinkle to the equation is Jordan Hill, who can't be dealt until Jan. 15 after getting a raise greater than 20% from the Lakers. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Devin Ebanks, Antawn Jamison, Jordan Hill, Darius Morris, Jodie Meeks 

Brown said he can also see both Morris and Blake playing minutes at the shooting guard position this season. "Darius is a big guard so if he's out there, he can play the two sometimes," Brown said. "Same with Steve [Blake], he can play the two also. I look at them as guards, rather than just point guards." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Blake, Mike Brown, Darius Morris 

Mike Trudell: Several of LAL's coaches praising the work @Darius Morris did this summer both in the weight room & on his J. Looks a lot cleaner. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Darius Morris 

Mark Deeks: Danny Green got three years and $11,287,500, all guaranteed with no options. Darius Morris took the one year QO, so he too can veto trades. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Danny Green, Darius Morris 

Darius Morris, a backup point guard who played limited minutes as a rookie last season, on Monday signed the Lakers' qualifying offer of about $950,000 for next season and will remain in his native Los Angeles. Morris played only 19 games and averaged just 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.9 minutes last season. He was one of a number of young players around the league whose progress was stunted by the lockout-shortened 66-game season in 2011-12. First, the lockout forced the cancellation of the NBA's summer league and then there was little time for practice once the labor impasse ended. The Lakers expect Morris to join their 2012 summer-league team, which begins play July 13 in Las Vegas. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Darius Morris 

Mike Bresnahan: Lakers confirm that Darius Morris accepts one year contract of $900K. Ebanks still hasn't decided on his one-year offer of about $1 mill. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Darius Morris 

Marc J. Spears: Lakers re-sign guard Darius Morris to qualifying offer, source tells Yahoo! Sports. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Darius Morris 

Mike Trudell: LAL extended qualifying offers to both @Devin Ebanks & @Darius Morris today, making both restricted free agents. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris 

Mike Bresnahan: Lakers will give rookie PG Darius Morris a qualifying offer of about $940,000 making him a restricted FA. He's probably back next year. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Darius Morris 

Meanwhile, Morris enters this off-season wanting to use the summer league, which goes from July 13-22 in Las Vegas, to impress two parties. One involves the Lakers, where he averaged 2.4 points on 42.9% shooting in 8.9 points per game his rookie season. One involves other NBA teams, which Morris hopes would walk away impressed enough to grant him a larger role. "I love it here in L.A," Morris said Wednesday following his exit interview at the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo. "But being a young player, it's really important to be somewhere where you feel like you have an opportunity to play and get to grow on the court, most importantly. Little things like that will be a factor. We'll see what happens." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Summer League, Darius Morris 

As most players, rookie Darius Morris would like to return to the Lakers next season. But he also covets playing time, something he saw little of during his first NBA season. To improve his chances, Morris is planning to play in the NBA Summer League in July. “An expanded role is not impossible,” he said during his exit interview Wednesday. Morris, who averaged 8.9 minutes in 19 games, caught a break when point guard Steve Blake suffered a rib injury and saw his minutes increase significantly. He would like a bigger role next season, but knows he needs to improve. “Being on the bench, you lean a lot from the other point guards,” he said, adding that he learned quite a bit from watching Kobe Bryant. “I didn’t really expect us to be as close as we got, but it happened. … Off the court we became good friends,” Morris said. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Darius Morris