Lakers Do What Seattle Couldn’t: They Sign Christie for the Season

As a youngster, Doug Christie patterned himself after Magic Johnson. Now, he’s in line for Johnson’s old job as the Lakers’ point guard.

Christie, whose rights were acquired from Seattle on Monday with Benoit Benjamin for Sam Perkins, on Friday signed a contract for the rest of the season. He was put on the suspended list to forestall a roster move and to give him time to get into shape, but he is allowed to practice with the team until he is activated.

“I don’t want to come in with a lot of hype. I want to let my playing do the talking,” said Christie, who averaged 16 points in three seasons as a swingman at Pepperdine.

He said he would feel comfortable as a guard or small forward.

Terms of the contract were not announced. However, Christie’s agent, Bradley Marshall, said Christie’s earnings will compare with what he would have earned under the four-year, $2.742-million Seattle contract he rejected on Oct. 4.

Christie will become a restricted free agent after the season and he can’t discuss another contract with the Lakers until they are eliminated from the playoffs.