Ramon Session decides to opt out of his option with the Los Angeles Lakers – NBA News
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions has decided to opt out of his option for next year with the Los Angeles Lakers and will test the free agency market in July, it was revealed on Tuesday.
"Ramon has carefully considered this decision. He had to make a career decision and ultimately decided to do what was best in providing stability and longevity for him in the NBA, and this could only be achieved through a multiyear
contract,” said Sessions' agent, Jared Karnes.
The Lakers were hoping that he would exercise his option for next year with the Lakers, where they would get the opportunity to see him perform for a full season before deciding on his contract extension.
However, Session decided to opt out of the contract that would have him as a Laker for next season.
“I would have preferred that he would have exercised his option to extend and would have been with us for another year. Only because he is a young player that's going to get better,” said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.
Sessions had a good season with the Lakers, where he was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers on the trade deadline as a replacement for aging point guard Derek Fisher, who was traded by the Lakers. He played 23 games of the regular
season and averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9% from the field and 48.6% from the distance.
Sessions did not have a good post season though, and averaged only 6.8 points and 3 assists in the Western Conference Semi Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers went on to lose the series 4-1, which brought an end
to their postseason campaign.
“He's an incredible athlete. He thinks the game. He understands the game. He's great in the locker room. He likes to work. He wants to improve,” added Kupchak.
Once Sessions becomes a free agent, the Lakers will have to compete with other teams if they want to retain his services for next year. The Lakers already have around $80 million committed to 8 players and are above the salary
cap for next season. If Sessions leaves, they will only have the mini-mid level exception available to them worth $3 million a year, which they can offer to a prospective point guard.
Considering how the Lakers are tied up in terms of salary cap, there is a chance that they might trade Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum. After having picked up the option on Bynum’s contract a few weeks earlier, it is likely that the
Lakers will trade Gasol.
Some of the free agents available on the market that the Lakers could land for the mini mid-level exception are Raymond Felton of Portland, Kirk Hinrich of Atlanta and Aaron Brooks of Phoenix.
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