Reeves Nelson back in Los Angeles — This time with the Lakers

What an interesting ride.

According to this LA Times article, former UCLA standout and malcontent Reeves Nelson has resurfaced, this time in the professional ranks with the Lakers. He has a non-guaranteed contract and has been invited to camp this year. On a team with huge salaries of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol, there are multiple spots for guys who are making the league minimum or something close to that.

And this, I think, is where Nelson fits in. Lakers fans have seen some old and/or unknown big men as 2nd and 3rd stringers over the past 3 years. Can anyone say D.J. Mbenga? Josh Powell? What about Joe Smith? Theo freaking Ratliff. OK, you’re right, I missed the glory of Derrik Caracter.

So I can see the wheels turning for Mitch Kupchak. Depth at the post is a hard thing to come by. Rebounding and toughness off the bench are something worth taking a chance on. What harm can it be to sign a guy who can play with incredible energy and ferocity in spurts?

Reeves is still saying things that aren’t super-smart. From the Times article:

“I’m very grateful,” Nelson said in an interview. “It’s nice becasue I’m pretty sure that virtually no one thought I could get this far, so it’s pretty gratifying.”

Does he mean that nobody thought he could make it this far before or after he forced his way off the UCLA roster by acting like an ass? The talent of Reeves Nelson should have always got him AT LEAST to a non-guaranteed training camp somewhere. If he would have just not been an idiot in college, he could have seven-figures guaranteed for at least a few years.

Instead, he’s had to do all the “right things” to even get the opportunity to make an NBA team.

Reeves Nelson is a player who, in college, let his reckless emotions get in the way of him becoming great. Anybody in Los Angeles (or Indiana) know anybody like that?

I can’t wait to see Reeves, Metta, and Kobe on the court at the same time. Thank God for Steve Nash.