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Los Angeles Lakers Summer League Review: The Veterans

By Jackson Sanders

Feb 25, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Lakers won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Lakers won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) reacts after fouling out of an NBA Summer League game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) reacts after fouling out of an NBA Summer League game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Tarik Black … is who he is (and that’s not a bad thing).

My biggest observation about Tarik Black over the course of Summer League was that I didn’t really have a major one. He did exactly what I expected him to do — nothing more, nothing less.

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard J.P. Tokoto (11) is fouled while shooting by Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard J.P. Tokoto (11) is fouled while shooting by Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

When it comes down to it, Black already is who he will be as an NBA player. I wouldn’t expect him to suddenly become a good post-scorer, he will never become a facilitator, and if he starts knocking in mid-range jumpers, I’ll be at the top of the list of people shocked by the development.

But he doesn’t need to do any of that. And he won’t be asked to, either.

Instead, Black will need to be disruptive defensively while grabbing all of the rebounds that he is capable of. On offense, finishing off passes with thunderous dunks will be his only true task outside of setting bone-crushing screens.

Black is a high-character, hard working role player. He would not have made it to where he is without those tools. And as long as he can grab rebounds and function offensively, teams should continue to find a spot for him on their roster.

For the Lakers, the hope is he can become a Ben Wallace of sorts; a hard-working force of nature that can shift games with pure effort.

There is certainly some developing left to do, but the path that Tarik Black is on is pretty much set. And the Lakers should be satisfied with where he is going.

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