Lakers Have Cash in Reserve

Not only did the Lakers, in the end, pay Devean George as a starter, they paid him more than three of their own.

Angling to maintain the core elements of their three-time NBA championship roster, the Lakers agreed to terms with George on a free-agent contract worth $20.9 million over four years, the maximum they could pay him over that term, his agent said Wednesday. George can opt out after the third season.

The Lakers will announce the deal today, when George signs the contract. He was expected to fly into Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

On the day the NBA announced a lowering of its salary cap by more than $2 million, the Laker payroll rose to about $60 million, about $5 million more than last season, with at least two more players--expected to be Brian Shaw and Slava Medvedenko--still to sign. The club also could add a frontcourt player, preferably a reserve center to spell Shaquille O’Neal, which would cost it at least another $1 million, though that is not necessarily a priority.

The critical part of the summer, however, ended almost as soon as the signing period began.

George, who has started two games in three years and averaged 7.1 points last season while earning $834,250, spent the past two weeks visiting other teams. Apparently intrigued by George’s athletic ability and occasional dynamic play, several teams seemed eager to pay at least what the Lakers did, causing Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak to improve on his earlier offers.

Therefore, George, whose salary next season will be $4.545 million and increase by $454,500 in each of the following three seasons, will earn more next season than small forward Rick Fox, point guard Derek Fisher or power forward Samaki Walker, all likely starters.

George, 24, did become a contributor last season. He set career highs in nearly all statistical categories, and in parts of the season played the fourth quarter ahead of Fox. He was a preferred defensive matchup for Coach Phil Jackson against some of the larger, athletic small forwards. Though he did not play particularly well in the playoffs, when he said he believed his time with the Lakers was “winding down,” George had one last kick going into free agency, scoring 11 points and taking six rebounds in 20 minutes in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

George was not available for comment, according to his agent.

“For Devean, his goal all along was to stay with the Lakers,” George’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. “It’s where he wanted to be, but we weren’t sure if it would work out financially. He’s very happy it did.”

With the salary cap falling for the first time and many teams already into the payroll tax, it would seem that George was wise to move quickly.

“Devean didn’t want it hanging out there forever,” Bartelstein said. “We had a good idea what the market was for him. There was a lot of interest and he had a lot of suitors. But if the Lakers could get to that level, then I knew that was what he was going to want to do.”

George probably passed on more playing time, and possibly a starting job, in another city.

“Winning a championship is a difficult thing,” Bartelstein said. “He’s done it three times in a row. He feels like he’s really grown with the team. He feels like his role is going to continue to flourish. ... He basically was really enjoying his life.

“When it’s all said and done, this is a 24-year-old guy who can be a huge part of their future for a long, long time. You don’t let a guy like that get away. I think that’s the conclusion they came to.”

Kupchak declined to comment.

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Though Shaquille O’Neal has not yet chosen a course of treatment, the Lakers expect him to have minor surgery on his arthritic toe near the end of summer and be ready to play by early in training camp.... The signing of George means it is very unlikely Mitch Richmond will return.... The Lakers are well along in the Medvedenko negotiations, and that contract should be announced any day. Shaw’s deal should move quickly as well.