The Lakers have made some quality base hits since whiffing on the top targets that defined their free-agent sweepstakes.
Lou Williams agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal on Sunday to join the Lakers, a move that shores up their backcourt depth and provides more secondary scoring. The Lakers also plan to sign free-agent forward Brandon Bass, adding to a bloated frontcourt that soon could dwindle to open up cap space.
Williams won the NBAs Sixth Man of the Year award last season after averaging a career-high 15.5 points with the Toronto Raptors. Williams has averaged 11.9 points and shot 34.1 percent from 3-point range in his 10-year NBA career, including stops with the Philadelphia 76ers (2005-12), Atlanta Hawks (2012-14) and Raptors (2014-15). Bass, a 10-year NBA veteran, averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 82 games with the Boston Celtics last season.
Williams deal has no player or team options, according to a league source familiar with his contract. But the terms of Bass deal were not immediately clear since the move may require the Lakers to trade players to free up cap space, with candidates including Nick Young, Ryan Kelly and/or Robert Sacre. Those players are the only ones with guaranteed contracts for the 2015-16 season besides Kobe Bryant, DAngelo Russell, Julius Randle Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr., all players the Lakers have no intentions of trading. The Lakers also have a room exception worth $2.8 million.
The most likeliest trade candidate appears to be Young, who has three years worth $16 million left on his contract.
The Lakers had visions of Young fulfilling a role Williams excelled in last season. But that dream turned into a nightmare. Young averaged 13.4 points on a career-low 36.6-percent shooting. He and Lakers coach Byron Scott clashed on issues surrounding his inconsistency, playing time and playful personality. Young also opened and ended the 2014-15 season with respective right thumb and left knee injuries that kept him out for a combined 40 games.
After missing out on LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe and DeAndre Jordan, the Lakers also filled their vacant center position by nearing an agreement with Indiana to acquire Roy Hibbert in a trade. The Pacers looked to unload Hibberts $15.5 million salary in the final year of his contract amid a reduced role under a fast-paced system. Hibbert has averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in his seven-year NBA career. But Hibbert, a two-time All-Star center, has become a proven shot blocker.
Talks heating upAdvertisement
Both Jeremy Lin and Wayne Ellington have had active conversations with numerous NBA teams that could lead to a deal soon, according to league sources familiar with the situation.
Ellington has sparked interest from the Lakers, Golden State, Cleveland, Washington, San Antonio, Atlanta and New York. Lin has heard from Dallas, Memphis, Indiana, Chicago, San Antonio, the Clippers and the Lakers.
It seems unlikely Lin will stay with the Lakers, however, after L.A. drafted point guard DAngelo Russell. Lin also felt uncomfortable in Scotts deliberate offense.
Source: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20150705/nba-free-agency-lou-williams-reportedly-agrees-to-three-year-21-million-deal-with-lakers
