Of Laker Girls and Sasha
Reader questions for Lakers beat reporter Mike Bresnahan.
Q: Why don't we see more of the Laker Girls on TV? Is it a union thing, or would they have to be paid more money if they were featured?
Paula Williams
A. Good question, and a little out of my area of expertise, so I consulted with Lisa Estrada, director of the Laker Girls, for an answer.
She tells me there are no union restrictions or anything like that. It's entirely up to the TV production staffs to pick and choose which shots they want to use for a particular game, be it on FSN West, KCAL, ESPN, TNT or ABC.
Lisa did tell me, however, that there are more Laker girls at games this year--18 instead of 16, to be exact--so the TV production crews definitely have options if they so choose.
Q: How long before the Lakers part ways with Sasha Vujacic?
Jack Pollon
A: Vujacic, the 27th selection in the 2004 draft, will be around for a while.
We're not talking Kobe Bryant's contract length in this situation, but the Lakers just exercised a one-year option to keep Vujacic under contract through 2007-08 at a fairly inexpensive cost. He will make $1.8 million next season, well under the average NBA player salary of about $5 million per season.
Vujacic had a decent training camp but has since struggled with his outside shot, so his playing time has dropped more steeply than expected. With Aaron McKie coming back soon from a strained back, it will be interesting to see if Vujacic is placed on the inactive list for any games in the near future.
Of Laker Girls and Sasha
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