Lakers’ George Is Reviewing Offers

On Monday, the first day that NBA teams can negotiate with free agents, Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak spoke with the agent for Devean George.

“I had a really good talk with Mitch,” Mark Bartlestein, George’s agent, said. “Devean’s got nothing but great feelings toward the Lakers. Still, he owes it to himself to hear what everybody else has to say. We have to play this out and see what happens.”

Bartlestein, who is based in Chicago, said he was contacted by 12 to 15 teams concerning George, regarded by some as a huge talent stifled by the Lakers’ triangle offense and veteran-heavy roster.

Armed presumably with a portion of the mid-level exception as the starting point to a multiyear deal, Kupchak has said he hoped to re-sign the athletic George. After playing very well early in the season after the club declined to exercise the fourth-year option on his rookie contract, George flattened out in the second half.

The club has other needs, particularly at power forward, although it has won the last three NBA championships with three different starters there, four if one counts both Robert Horry and Samaki Walker last season.

Undersized Malik Rose is an unrestricted free agent whom the Lakers expect will re-sign with San Antonio, but the Spurs figure the Lakers will make a play for him. Veteran Charles Oakley would fill a one-year gap in the Laker front line for the veteran’s minimum $1 million, but the club did not make a call to the forward’s representatives Monday.

The Lakers have had internal discussions about most available forwards and backup centers, from Boston free agent Rodney Rogers to retired center Arvydas Sabonis and a handful of others, but there is a general lack of satisfaction about the quality and/or cost of such potential additions.

Meantime, Kupchak will focus on retaining his own free agents. Along with George, he has said he would like to re-sign Slava Medvedenko and Brian Shaw. The Lakers could also offer Jelani McCoy a contract, probably not guaranteed, and mull an offer to veteran Mitch Richmond, who has said he would like to return to the team despite limited minutes last season. Medvedenko is a restricted free agent, allowing the Lakers to match any offers.

The heavy competition for George could come from the Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. In a fairly weak off-season for free agents, the Wizards apparently are prepared to spend their entire mid-level exception--expected to be about $4.6 million--on George.

Teams cannot sign free agents until July 17.