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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers spent the last few summers attempting to sell the NBAs top free agents on the franchises glamorous combination of history and Hollywood.From Dwight Howard to LaMarcus Aldridge, that pitch went terribly -- even more terribly than the Lakers last few seasons.So general manager Mitch Kupchak is trying something new this summer: The Lakers are selling their future, not their past.I do feel like we have a lot more going for us this year than we did last year, Kupchak said. We can focus a little bit more on the basketball side of it, because we do have more to sell. The franchise and the city have always sold themselves. Im not sure well concentrate as much on that as we did last year.After the worst season in franchise history and the retirement of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers have roughly $55 million in salary cap room to use in the free agent signing period -- but the glitz and celebrity that once attracted the likes of Shaquille ONeal arent as impressive in the 21st century.Instead, Kupchak hinted that the Lakers will attempt to attract players who are interested in getting in on the ground floor of the next big thing, not in joining Bryant in an attempt to climb back to the heights repeatedly scaled by this team.Will it work? Even Kupchak isnt sure. At least the Lakers are ready to start their next chapter.It might not be different, Kupchak said, before quickly adding: I think this year is different.The Lakers are looking for leaders and contributors to join an interesting young core, consisting of No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram, DAngelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. The group is unproven, but undeniably intriguing -- and in clear need of a veteran presence beyond guard Lou Williams.We didnt have as much to sell last year and the year before, Kupchak said. And we only had enough money for one (maximum contract for a) player last year, too. So I think this year, we have more to sell. We have Julius, DAngelo, Jordan Clarkson, whos a year further along, and Larry Nance.Running the show is 36-year-old coach Luke Walton, a prized prospect himself after his standout work with the Golden State Warriors.The former Lakers forward began his pitch to potential new players at his introductory news conference, emphasizing his knowledge of the teams tradition as he begins to change the way it plays.The future is bright, Walton said. Were going to play an up-tempo game ... and we have money to spend. I know the Buss family, and I know the Lakers organization. They do what it takes to win. That, to me, is all you really need to know. I dont see why you wouldnt want to come here and play.The Lakers already know they wont land the biggest prize in the market after Kevin Durant declined to meet with them. Yet there are plenty of candidates who could be intrigued by their combination of potential and the lavish compensation for playing on LAs most popular team.Big men Al Horford and Hassan Whiteside both intrigue the Lakers, as does forward Nicolas Batum. DeMar DeRozan, a Compton native, has long been rumored to be a homecoming candidate, although Lakers fans are sharply divided on the wisdom of giving big money to a streaky player.The Lakers have just six players under contract for next season, and that includes shooting guard Nick Young, who might be gone soon. Ingram also will definitely be on the team, but Kupchak is eager to put veterans around his blue-chip prospects.I think history tells you that a bunch of young guys on a team is probably not a good thing, Kupchak said. They look around for leadership and advice from somebody whos been through this a couple of times, and if theres nobody to talk to, then they really dont know how to handle the situation. So I think we will look to add some veteran leadership, and hopefully not only leadership, but guys who can help us win games. Jordan 13 For Sale Cheap .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Cheap Jordan 13 Online . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapairjordan13.com/ . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Shoes . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Jordan 13 China Wholesale . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. CHICAGO -- About the time Travis Wood was dousing Chicago Cubs general manager Theo Epstein with champagne Tuesday night, Epstein was explaining the prevailing theory of roster construction.You build it for 162 (games) and you watch it play out, Epstein said.You build it for the postseason and you pray.So far, so good for the favored Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who advanced to meet in the National League Championship Series after difficult NLDS challenges from San Francisco and Washington, respectively. The first two games of the best-of-seven series are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday night at Wrigley Field.The Cubs beat the Giants in four games with a four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday, only the second time in playoff history a team had scored four runs in the ninth inning to win a postseason clincher. The Mets did it to the Boston Red Sox in 1986.When you go through these moments, I think they make you better, and it makes you continue to focus, said Cubs catcher David Ross, who homered and hit a sacrifice fly in Game 4. Weve been through a lot of these with comebacks in the ninth. You just continue to grind. It just says a lot about the character of these guys in the young group. They continue to fight.The Cubs, who won a major league-high 103 games in the regular season and have been favored to win the World Series since the playoffs began, have won 10 games this season when they trailed entering the ninth, including Tuesdays game.Not that the Dodgers are fazed by being labeled underdogs.For us, its just a lot of noise, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. I think it comes down to 25 players against one another. It really doesnt matter to us, to (be) quite honest.The Dodgers advanced to the NLCS just as unconventionally, with a 4-3 victory at Washington in Game 5 on Thursday. Trailing 1-0 entering the seventh inning, the Dodgers scored four runs in that inning to go ahead, then held on by using closer Kenley Jansen to get seeven outs and set up three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, who got the final two outs with the tying run on base.ddddddddddddJansen threw 51 pitches, but Roberts would not rule them out for use this weekend.Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, a top Cy Young candidate, opposes Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda in Game 1. Lester gave up five hits and no walks in eight shutout innings of a 1-0 victory over the Giants in the first game of the NLDS last Friday.Maeda gave up four runs in three innings of the Dodgers Game 3 loss on Sunday and will be pitching on regular rest.The Cubs and Dodgers were eliminated by the NL champion Mets last season. New York beat the Dodgers in five games in the NLDS and then swept the Cubs in four games in the NLCS.The Cubs may need to improve their hitting in order to advance to their first World Series since 1945, although batting averages are normally down in the playoffs because of the quality of pitching.Kris Bryant and Javier Baez had six hits apiece in the Giants series, and Wilson Contreras was 4-for-6. All were major players in the Game 4 rally -- Bryant singled to open the ninth. Ben Zobrist doubled in one run, Contreras singled in two to tie the game, and Baez drove in the game-winner before Aroldis Chapman recorded his third save of the series.Pitchers have driven in six of the Cubs 17 runs this postseason -- three coming on starter Jake Arrietas three-run homer in Game 3. Dexter Fowler has two hits while Jason Heyward, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell all have one through four games.Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was 6-for-15 in the NLDS, and his double drove in the final run Thursday. Joc Pederson, whose homer off Max Scherzer began the Dodgers four-run rally, was 5-for-15. Shortstop Corey Seager, the certain NL Rookie of the Year, was 3-for-23, although two of his hits were homers. ' ' '