Scott and Pacers Reach Agreement

Former Laker guard Byron Scott agreed to a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Scott, who arrived in Indianapolis Sunday night, is expected to sign the contract today and make his debut with the Pacers in Tuesday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings at Indianapolis.

Scott, who averaged 16 points in 10 seasons with the Lakers, is expected to be Reggie Miller’s backup at shooting guard.

“I’m real excited to have been offered the opportunity to play for the Indiana Pacers,” Scott said in a statement. “I believe that the Indiana Pacers are a young team and I’ll make it into the NBA playoffs, an event I have not missed once in my 10-year career.

“I will do everything possible to help bring veteran leadership and championship pride to the Pacers. As of this moment I consider myself not only an employee of the Indiana Pacers but of every Indiana basketball fan.

“I’m also happy to be playing with my friends Pooh Richardson and Reggie Miller, two of the best guards in the NBA. The decision on where I would play was always to be based on the team and its coach. I believe that Coach Larry Brown is one of the best motivating coaches in the NBA.”

Scott, 32, who earned $1.1 million last season, became an unrestricted free agent in July when the Lakers decided not to re-sign him because they wanted to give more playing time to younger players such as Anthony Peeler, Doug Christie and Nick Van Exel.

“After earning three championship rings with the Lakers and having played in six NBA championship finals, I will always have a fondness for all the terrific fans in Los Angeles, but as of today it is time to physically and mentally move on and to create new winning memories with my new team, the Indiana Pacers,” Scott said.

Scott said he will dedicate the season to his former agent Bob Woolf, who died of a heart attack last week.

Hampered by an ankle injury last season, Scott played in a career-low 58 games and averaged 13.7 points, his lowest average since his rookie season, when he averaged 10.6.

Acquired from the Clippers for Norm Nixon in 1983, Scott is the Lakers’ seventh-leading scorer with 12,254 points. He also is the Lakers’ three-point field goal leader with 552.