Los Angeles Lakers still interested in point guard Ramon Sessions – NBA News
Hours after the NBA free agency officially opened, the Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak called the representative of former Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions to inform him that the Lakers were interested in him.
“Our discussion was cordial and I'm looking forward to talking to Mitch again in the near future. I'm satisfied with tonight and looking forward to continue this process in the next few days,” said Sessions agent Jared Karnes while talking to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Karnes added that he only talked briefly with Kupchak and no salary figures or contract durations were discussed, but he is looking forward to the negotiations that will follow.
Sessions was acquired by the Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline in March. He averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 23 regular season games for the Lakers, shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 48.6 percent from the three point line during those games.
However, he failed to step his game up to the next level in the post season as his lack of experience started to show. The one guard averaged 6.8 points and 3 assists on a 35.3 percent from the field in the Western Conference Semi Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Lakers lost that series 4-1.
Sessions had one year remaining in his contract but opted out of it a few weeks ago to test free agency. That final year would have paid him $4.55 million.
The Lakers need a quality point guard as the only option in their current roster is back up guard Steve Blake. They are reportedly eyeing Chauncey Billups and Nick Young in case Sessions does not sign with them.
Billups is currently a member of the Los Angeles Clippers squad and suffered a torn left Achilles tendon back in February that forced him to miss the post season. He averaged 14.9 points and 4 assists in his first season with the Clippers and was missed badly by his team in the playoffs where the Clippers lost in the 2nd round to the San Antonio Spurs.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul has said that his top priority this post season would be to convince Billups to return to the Clippers.
Nick Young has also had a great season with the Clippers and is being pursued by many teams including Indiana, Boston and the Brooklyn Nets. He has the ability to score points coming off the bench, which is an area where the Lakers need improvement.
This year’s free agency market is turning out to be a tough fight with many teams eyeing the same players to fulfil their requirements. The Lakers have some good options for the point guard position and players would love to play for a team as accomplished as them. It is now up to them to make the move.
Tags: