With the additions of Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass via trade and free agency, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak says the team may be looking to add another point guard or center. Although the free agency market has dried up, the franchise still has a $2.8 million exception available.
One of the free agents still available is J.R. Smith, who opted out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, the Lakers will not be signing him in free agency:
Not sure where the 'JR Smith to Lakers' rumors stemmed from. But Lakers aren't signing him
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) July 27, 2015
While Smith won the Sixth Man of the Year award during the 2012-13 season, the Lakers already have a crowded backcourt. With D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson likely starting in the backcourt, Kobe Bryant will shift to the small forward position where he recently expressed confidence in.
With the Lakers not signing Smith, there are still options including Robert Upshaw, who participated in the team’s Summer League in Las Vegas. Although there was a report of Upshaw agreeing to a two-year deal, Kupchak recently provided an update on the situation.