LAKERS SIGN JIMMY JACKSON

Jim Jackson Signed, Medvedenko Released
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
March 6, 2006

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

WOO! A VETERAN! Finally Med is gone!

Nice. Hopefully Jimmy will be able to bring some experience to the team... not really expecting to play too much straight away.

And Slava is gone.. ah well... you can't hold onto guys who aren't doing much...

Nice. Hopefully Jimmy will be able to bring some experience to the team... not really expecting to play too much straight away.

And Slava is gone.. ah well... you can't hold onto guys who aren't doing much...

plus hes only played 2 games and is out for the year

Well.. it doesnt make a difference. His contract runs out this year.

good! LA wasted $6000000 on him!

Nice pick-up there I was hoping he'd sign.

noooo Slava Med-va-denkkko as Stephen A would put it, is gone. I would have kept Slava j/k

Excellent, team number 12. Here's hoping for lucky 13 next year, and the record.

Now to go out and sign penny hardaway and shawn kemp...

wow didnt see that coming but he will definately help them

Good move by the Lakers. Better than Devean?

This move wont do much for the Lakers. Jim Jackson changes teams all the time... he must not be too great of an addition or he would stay in one place.

teams need role players...he's a good role player. Its the same reason they dont want a team of all-stars on the olympic team again.

Great Pickup, Jimmy Jackson is a decent defender, he can score double digit when given the minutes + he can play 2 and 3, tough player with good size..
Now if Penny gets healthy, and signs with the lakers
Penny, Kobe, Jimmy, 3 guys taller than 6'6 with a shot, and can handle da ball, versatility! okay i'm overrating that trio but ya

good trade for LA

not a trade, just a pick up

Decent pickup for the Lakers, Jim jackson should be able to make a worthwhile contribution to the team. See you later Slava.

now get rid of McKie and pickup Penny

Why'd the Suns drop him?

I didn't get that. I thought he was a good player. He must have been stinking it up for them this season?

I guess he just didn't fit into their plans this year, so they're giving him an opportunity to get more minutes and a more prominent role elsewhere.

DNP tonight right? Lakers lost to the Spurs..they were up early though

yea..Jim didn't paly tonight..Finley and Manu got hot from downtown at the second half..tough loss for the Lakers..

It was the 1st day, hasnt even practiced with the team yet. I hope he plays against the Hornets.

Is he wearing 14 or 24, nba has him as 14 but i was thinking how is he going to take slava's number right after he got wiaved and then espn has him as 24 which makes more sense since most of his number have been in the 20-24 area. but yea does anyone know?

Since I only got into basketball recently, does anyone know what kind of player or the way Jimmy Jackson played when he was with the three Js in Dallas?

I just want to know what happened in his career because he played very well in his first few years and I think he's a pretty good role player to have on a team.