Chris Kaman signs $3.2 million contract with Lakers for next season

Chris Kaman signed his contract Friday with the Lakers for the 2013-14 season.

“We’re pleased to be able to add a big man of Chris’ caliber to the roster,” Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “He’s a versatile center who defends well, goes hard to the glass and can score both in the paint and from mid-range.”

Kaman, 31, will earn $3.2 million next season with the Lakers. The veteran center will join the Lakers’ frontcourt with Pau Gasol, Jordan Hill and Robert Sacre. Second-round pick (48th) Ryan Kelly has yet to sign with the team.

After one season with the Dallas Mavericks, Kaman returns to Los Angeles after spending most of his career with the Clippers. An All-Star in 2010, Kaman was traded to New Orleans as part of the 2011 blockbuster trade that landed Chris Paul with the Clippers. Last year with the Mavericks, Kaman averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 66 games.

And another new Laker, forward Nick Young, said Friday: “It’s a dream come true.”

The 6-foot-7 former USC star played for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 10.6 points a game on 41.3% shooting from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.

Young, 28, also played for the Clippers in 2012, helping the team advance past the Memphis Grizzlies in a hard-fought seven-game series.

“We think there’s a lot of playing time here for him, if he works hard,” Kupchak told reporters Friday. “We see him playing at the small forward position.”

Young will make $1.1 million for the coming season

--Eric Pincus

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The Golden State Warriors have confirmed the deal struck this week with free agent Marreese Speights. The announcement Friday gives Golden State another versatile power forward off the bench whom they hope can fill the void left by Carl Landry, who agreed to a four-year, $26 million contract with the Sacramento Kings last Saturday. Speights’ deal is for three years and about $11 million.

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The Timberwolves finalized contracts with a pair of small forwards whose skills were central to their plan, Chase Budinger and Corey Brewer.