Lakers Look for Bargains

The Lakers appeared to get pretty good value with Jordan Farmar in Wednesday’s draft.

Will they be equally fortunate in free agency?

The salary cap-strapped Lakers will have about $7 million to spend in a free-agency period that begins today. Teams can now negotiate with players but cannot officially sign them until July 12.

“If there’s a year where you’re not going to have $10 million available or $15 million available, this is the year,” Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “There’s some good free agents available this year, but it’s not a stellar group.”

The Lakers could tinker mildly with a roster that created an entertaining, but ultimately futile, first-round playoff series against Phoenix.

They are way over the salary cap because they are still paying Brian Grant’s salary for another year ($15.4 million), but they have two exceptions at their disposal. With the mid-level exception, they can sign a free agent for up to five years with a first-year salary equal to the league average of about $5.2 million. The Lakers could also use their bi-annual exception of $1.7 million for a contract with a two-year maximum.

Either way, they’re not looking at any front-line free agents -- Detroit center Ben Wallace, Sacramento guard Bonzi Wells and Atlanta forward Al Harrington are out of their price range -- but there are other options.

Utah forward Matt Harpring quietly put together a solid year, averaging 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 78 games. Harpring, 30, made $5 million last season.

Electrifying but erratic guard Marcus Banks averaged 12 points and 4.7 assists in 40 games after being traded to Minnesota. Banks, 24, made $1.7 million last season.

Vladimir Radmanovic, a smooth-shooting 6-foot-10 forward, made 39% of his three-point attempts last season with Seattle and the Clippers.

The Lakers are also interested in Jared Jeffries, a defense-minded forward who averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds last season for Washington. Because Jeffries is a restricted free agent, the Wizards can match an offer sheet that Jeffries signs. Jeffries, 24, made $2.4 million last season.

Guard-forward Laron Profit is a strong candidate to be re-signed at a reasonable price by the Lakers, who waived him last season when he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon.

The Lakers also like Toronto guard Mike James, who had career-best averages of 20.3 points and 5.8 assists last season, but he is expected to get significantly more money.

Other free-agent guards include New Orleans’ Speedy Claxton and Memphis’ Bobby Jackson, although they come with question marks. Claxton is not a typical triangle-offense guard. Jackson is 33 and has averaged only 49 games over the last three seasons because of injuries.

Last year, the Lakers offered two-year contracts to mid-level candidates, a strategy they could employ again to ensure being well under the salary cap after the 2007-08 season.

The Lakers have three free agents on their roster. Devean George and Jim Jackson are not expected back, although Jackson has a chance at returning because he would command a lower salary. Devin Green is restricted, meaning the Lakers could match any offer for him.

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The Lakers encountered another stroke of good fortune on draft night. The Pistons, looking to dump salary to free up money to re-sign Wallace, sent Maurice Evans to the Lakers for their second-round selection.

It was slightly reminiscent of 10 years ago, when the Lakers jettisoned Anthony Peeler and George Lynch to free up enough money to sign Shaquille O’Neal. Evans will make $3 million over the next two years.

It was fine with Evans, who won’t have to fight for minutes any more in a tight Detroit rotation. “Great opportunity for me to come in and potentially really help this team,” he said Friday.

Evans, 27, is a defensive presence who averaged five points and 14.2 minutes in 80 games.

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Funeral services for Lamar Odom’s infant son, Jayden, will take place Wednesday in New York. Jayden Odom suffocated in his sleep Wednesday night. In lieu of flowers, Odom and his longtime girlfriend, Liza Morales, are asking that donations be made to Odom’s foundation. Donations may be sent to Cathy’s Kids, c/o Annie Civetz, Excel Sports Management; 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2550; Los Angeles, CA 90067. The foundation’s federal tax ID number is 201037784.