Brown happy to be out of Washington

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Kwame Brown says he&#39;s ready for a new beginning with the Los Angeles Lakers.<br> <br> Brown, drafted first overall in 2001 by Washington from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga., was introduced by his new team at a news conference Wednesday, a day after the completion of a trade that brought the 6-foot-11 forward and forward Laron Profit to the Lakers in exchange for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins.<br> <br> ``I just thank God that I&#39;m out of Washington and looking forward to getting here and turning things around for myself and my family,&#39;&#39; Brown said.<br> <br> Brown acknowledged four troubled years with the Wizards, including two arrests and two suspensions, the last during last season&#39;s playoffs.<br> <br> ``There were situations I could have handled a little more professionally that I didn&#39;t, and that I learned from,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Brown jumped from high school to the NBA as an 18-year-old.<br> <br> ``I was taught how to be a man in Washington. I came there a boy and I left a man,&#39;&#39; he said, adding that he is more mature and patient now.<br> <br> ``I think I know what to expect now, and I just have one thing in mind, and that&#39;s to go out and be the best I can be.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak feels Brown&#39;s final year in Washington fails to provide a complete picture.<br> <br> Brown began the year on the injured list with a broken foot and played in just 42 games, averaging 7.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.6 minutes. The year before, he played in 74 games, averaging 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 30.3 minutes.<br> <br> ``You have to look at the package, his four years in Washington,&#39;&#39; Kupchak said. ``Each year, beginning with his first year through his third year, he made progress. And then the fourth year did not go well. It just didn&#39;t. It didn&#39;t go well on the court, it didn&#39;t go well off the court. ... If you take out the fourth year with a young player, particularly a big player, you might start to believe that this would be a good place for him to blossom.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Lakers expectations, Kupchak said, are for Brown to be a defensive presence and play 30 minutes a game.<br> <br> And he believes returning coach Phil Jackson can help Brown achieve a fresh start. ``Phil has a way of getting through to players,&#39;&#39; Kupchak said.<br> <br> ``I felt during the initial meeting a month ago that there was a certain magnetic bond between these two people. ... For a player who&#39;s looking for a stable environment, a fresh start, a new home, it&#39;s a great way to start.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)