The Sun Shines on the Lakers

The Lakers held a press conference Wednesday to announce the signing of rookie Sun Yue to a multi-year contract. About 30 members of the media were in attendance at the team’s training facility in El Segundo as the club introduced the 6-foot-9 guard, who only arrived in Los Angeles a few days ago from his native China. Yue answered questions in English at a  table surrounded by over a dozen Chinese-speaking members of the media in a room at the El Seguno training center.

Yue was the Lakers second-round draft pick from 2007 and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was surprised at the turn-out for the press conference. In a statement to the L.A. Times, Kupchak said, “Quite frankly this is a very unusual turnout for a player who was drafted two years ago who we hope to be on this team for many, many years to come.” The 22-year-old started for the Chinese national team in the Beijing Olympics last month but lacks NBA-level experience, thus the Lakers general manager said Yue will have to earn his way into the club. The guard is not expected to be a rotation player for the Lakers this season and if he earns enough time as a backup he may play with the Lakers’ Development League team, the D-Fenders.

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