Lakers up to 11 guaranteed players under contract
With Jordan Farmar officially joining the team on Wednesday, the Lakers added their 11th guaranteed player to the roster.
In addition to the returning Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jordan Hill, Robert Sacre and Jodie Meeks, the Lakers have brought in four new faces.
Farmar will make his second stint with the Lakers, but it’s the first time around for Chris Kaman, Nick Young and Wesley Johnson.
The Lakers are also expected to sign their second-round draft pick (48th), Duke forward Ryan Kelly.
The league roster minimum is 13, so the Lakers will need to bring in at least one more. Though the opening-night maximum is 15 players, the Lakers are likely to bring in a few non-guaranteed invitees to training camp as well.
The Lakers are limited to minimum contracts to lure free agents. If there’s a piece missing, it might be the tough, Metta World Peace-style defender at both forward positions. James Johnson might make sense, even if he’s not much of a shooter.
Austin Daye seems like a good fit as a scoring forward in the Coach Mike D’Antoni mold.
Byron Mullens, who the Lakers pursued, appears to be close to a deal with the Clippers.
Other free-agent forwards include Louis Amundson, DeJuan Blair, Ivan Johnson, Jason Maxiell and Tyrus Thomas -- to name just a few. The Orlando Magic may cut the partially guaranteed Al Harrington and/or Hedo Turkoglu loose.
Possible additions from the Lakers’ summer league squad include Marcus Landry, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Lazar Hayward, Lester Hudson, Michael Snaer or any of the other eight players trying to earn a spot in the NBA.
The Lakers are certain to add a handful of players before training camp but most of the top free agents have already signed elsewhere.
ALSO:
Lakers make Jordan Farmar signing official
Nick Young’s Lakers contract is for two years with player option
Mike D’Antoni says Lakers lucky to get Kaman, Young in free agency
Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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