Lakers Sign Shooting Guard

(USA Today/Chris Humphreys)

Kevin R. Linares

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed fourth year shooting guard Xavier Henry. Henry played his college ball in Kansas before entering the NBA draft in 2010 where he was chosen 12th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies but has not been able to play at the level that many expected him to.

The 22-year old shooting guard has also played for the New Orleans Hornets(now known as the Pelicans) and last season played in the D-League for the Iowa Energy. In the NBA Henry has averaged 4.5 points per game and 1.8 rebounds.

The Lakers this week have now signed Shawne Williams and Henry which makes it 14 players signed going into training camp. The Lakers have one more roster spot open for the season but can sign up to 20 players going into training camp. The players that the team has signed this off season have been players that will fit Mike D’Antoni’s style of play. NBA training camps will start on October 1st and it will be interesting to see who else the Lakers look to add before and what players will make it on the team.

Lakers Sign Shawne Williams

(NY Daily News)

By Kevin R. Linares

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that they have officially signed free agent forward Shawne Williams. It was announced today by general manager Mitch Kupchak but the terms of the agreement were not released although it is believed he will make about $1.1 million.

Williams last played for the Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets(now known as Brooklyn Nets). He was also on the Portland Trailblazers but did not appear in the game.

The 27-year old has played under coach Mike D’Antoni back when he was on the Knicks. He has averaged 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds throughout his six years in the NBA. The former 17th overall pick played his college ball in Memphis where he was also born.

The signing comes on the same day forward Michael Beasley was waived by the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers had interest in Beasley and planned to acquire him after trading Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol for Chris Paul but the trade was later vetoed by David Stern. Talks were circulating around the web whether the Lakers should look to take a chance on the troubled forward after being waived.

Lamar Odom who has also run into trouble remains a free agent. Odom recently received a DUI and there have been numerous reports of him using drugs. Many Laker fans were hoping for Odom to make a return to the Lakers but it was looking less likely throughout the summer.