Lakers retain John Ireland, Mychal Thompson as radio announcers

The Lakers expect to make changes this off-season. General Manager Mitch Kupchak indicated as much in last week’s exit interview after expressing disappointment in the Lakers’ semifinals exit to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But that thought process won’t apply to their broadcasting team.

The Lakers signed radio play-by-play announcer John Ireland and color analyst Mychal Thompson to multiyear deals. Ireland took over the team’s radio play-by-play duties last season at 710 ESPN after announcer Spero Dedes left to accept the New York Knicks’ radio play-by-play position for its flagship station, the Madison Square Garden Network. Ireland had previously been the Lakers’ sideline reporter for Channel 9 while also serving his current co-hosting duties on 710’s “Mason & Ireland.” Thompson, a former Laker during the Showtime Era and member of the Lakers’ 1987-88 championship teams, enters his 10th season as the Lakers’ radio color analyst.

The Times’ Mike Bresnahan reported in early April that the Lakers agreed to multiyear deals with broadcasters Bill Macdonald and Stu Lantz, which would make them the centerpiece of the newly created Time Warner Cable channel next season. Bresnahan also reported at the time that it was expected the Lakers would retain Ireland and Thompson but that nothing had been finalized.

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Lakers name Bill Macdonald and John Ireland as team’s play-by-play announcers for 2011-2012 season

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