The two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers have finally agreed to a two-year deal with free agent guard Shannon Brown which is worth about $4.6 million dollars.
Last season Brown played a pivotal role for the Lakers as he was a solid replacement for Kobe Bryant when he missed five games during the regular season. Not only did the high flying combo guard play well in the absence of the team’s best player, but he was also brought some much needed energy off the bench and improved the defending champ’s chances of winning every single night.
Even though the Lakers didn’t go after the big-name free agents this summer like the Miami Heat (LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Mike Miller), Chicago Bulls (Carlos Boozer) and the New York Knicks (Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton), Kobe Bryant and company only got better during the offseason with the addition of some veteran role players that will improve the defense off the bench.
With the addition of backup point guard Steve Blake, veteran shot blocker Theo Ratliff and defensive minded forward Matt Barnes, arguably the best team in the league has improved their roster and their chances of repeating as NBA champs next season (11/4 odds to win the NBA title in 2011).
Along with signing these veteran role players, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was also able to re-sign the two players that he set out to heading into the NBA offseason in five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher and of course Shannon Brown who is arguably the most athletic player on the squad.
Needless to say, even though no big-name free agents will be headed to Los Angeles, the Lakers have had a very successful offseason and will be a force to be reckoned with once again next season.
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