Chris Kaman Signs One-Year Deal With Lakers

Chris Kaman is heading to Los Angeles after apparently signing a one-year deal with the Lakers. The team announced their intention to sign the veteran NBA player on Monday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed on Monday. However, sources told ESPN that Kaman, currently a free agent, has agreed to a one-year contract that will pay just under $3.2 million.

Along with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak announcing the news, Chris Kaman also took to Twitter to tell fans about his new team. He wrote:

“It’s true, I am going to be going back to LA and it’s to play for the Lakers! I am excited about this move and can’t wait to play! #Lakers.”

Kaman spent eight years with the Clippers before being sent to New Orleans. After that, he spent a year in Dallas under an $8 million, one-year contract. Despite being signed on as a starter, he spent more than half of each game on the bench.

The Lakers have scrambled to find a good center to replace Dwight Howard, who announced last week that he would not return to the team. Instead, Howard signed with the Houston Rockets.

Now that the Lakers have added Chris Kaman, they can only offer players minimum salaries ($1.4 million at most) to fill out the rest of their bench for the season.

Despite his steep pay cut, Kaman appeared excited about the move, adding, “It’s going to be weird playing in the same building as I did before but with different colors! But excited about the move!”

Kaman later added that his move wasn’t based on money, a good thing, since he took an almost $5 million pay cut. The NBA player explained, “It was a blessing being able to talk to several teams, but made my decision based on choosing a great franchise and a great fit, over money.”

Are you looking forward to seeing Chris Kaman playing with the Los Angeles Lakers next season?

[Image from Keith Allison]