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 many dimensions beyond shooting, so Ariza is the favorite to get the bulk of the reserve minutes there. (Ariza might end up the starter if the Odom backcourt experiment fails, with Bryant moving back to shooting guard and Odom relegated to the bench.)
The small forwards are also in different contract stages.
Including this season, Walton has five years and $26 million, and Radmanovic has three years and $19.4 million. Ariza is in the final year of a contract that pays him $3.1 million this season.
Ariza tried to put a positive spin on all of it.
"We all do different things," he said. "We all bring different aspects to the game. Either way you go, you can't lose."
Day of rest
Coach Phil Jackson gave the team a break during training camp, letting them stay home Sunday, the final day of two-a-day practices.
Jackson indicated Saturday he was happy with the players' efforts, particularly in a Friday night scrimmage.
"Everybody worked hard," he said. "My coaches felt that 'Drew [Bynum] played the best that he's performed all week, at least hustle-wise.
"The first unit felt very confident and played well together. Pau [Gasol], particularly, had an impressive practice. His rhythm is there because he's been playing. He just kept it up."
The day off was a tad too late for some players.
After Saturday's morning practice, Odom sauntered up to Jackson and asked if players could skip the night practice.
Jackson smiled, put his hand on Odom's shoulder and said, "No."
Odom smiled back.
