Jim Jackson Signed, Medvedenko Released

With an eye to the immediate future, the Lakers said goodbye to part of their past, signing free-agent swingman Jim Jackson and waiving injured forward Slava Medvedenko.

Jackson, 35, will be asked to add a veteran presence and outside touch to a team that has shot inconsistently throughout the season but is fighting for a playoff spot.

On his 12th team in 14 seasons, Jackson played in 27 games this season before being released by the Phoenix Suns last week, averaging 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.6 minutes. He has not played since Jan. 4 but was practicing with the Suns until he was waived. His minutes were reduced this season when Phoenix added Eddie House and James Jones.

Jackson, the fourth overall pick in the 1992 draft, averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds last season for a Phoenix team that won a league-best 62 games and lost to San Antonio in the Western Conference finals.

Jackson, 6 feet 6 and 220 pounds, will be paid about $500,000, his contract contingent on passing a physical today in Los Angeles. It is not expected to be a problem.

Medvedenko, who will be 27 next month, played only two games this season and underwent season-ending surgery in January for a herniated disk in his back.

Signed as a free agent in August 2000, Medvedenko played on two Laker championship teams. He was re-signed to a two-year, $6-million deal before the 2004-05 season but played only 23 games after that because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

For his career, Medvedenko has averaged 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 249 games.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/la-sp-lakerep6mar06,1,3486419.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba

I think Jon's Barry better than JJ.

Damn, 6 mill for nothing. Kupcheck (sp?) is an idiot.

About fucking time. Slava was a piece of European of shit. Judging from the Laker games I've seen this season they were in major need of shooting and perimeter D.

About fucking time. Slava was a piece of European of shit. Judging from the Laker games I've seen this season they were in major need of shooting and perimeter D.
well they get 1 out of 2 on that one. The question is can 35 year old Jim Jackson be relevent at this point in an offense that may call on him to get his own shot as opposed to getting set up for a jumper..

Jim Jackson still provides pretty good dribble penetration, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'd prefer him to spot-up since he's great from the perimeter and he'll get plenty of open looks because of the great dribble penetration of the guards(and Kobe's double-triple teams) and Odom's crazy unselfishness. Not too sure if Smush will pass him the ball. :lol:

Jim Jackson still provides pretty good dribble penetration, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'd prefer him to spot-up since he's great from the perimeter and he'll get plenty of open looks because of the great dribble penetration of the guards(and Kobe's double-triple teams) and Odom's crazy unselfishness. Not too sure if Smush will pass him the ball. :lol:
Odom hasnt passed that much. and when he does he is instructed to make sure its kobe [smilie=baby.gif] ...

As far as his dribble pentration. I dont remember seeing it on the regular since he was in houston. and 2 seasons ago is a long time when you're 35. But if he can hit his jump shots, they'll finally have a replacement for chucky atkins as a spot up shooter.