Troy Murphy is noncommittal on free-agency plans

*Audio of Troy Murphy’s exit interview

Lakers forward Troy Murphy said although he “enjoyed playing here,” he wasn’t sure he would re-sign with the team.

“Unfortunately, it ended sooner than we had expected,” Murphy said Tuesday after his exit interview at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo. “I’m going to take some time off and collect my thoughts and see what the future has in store.”

What Murphy thinks very well might not matter. The Lakers signed him last year to the veterans’ minimum for $1.4 million, and The Times’ Mike Bresnahan reported he isn’t expected to return.

Murphy said it was “huge for me to be able to be healthy” after struggling last season with New Jersey and Boston through hamstring and groin injuries. Yet the numbers he posted both with the Celtics and the Nets (3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds) as well as the Lakers (3.2 points, 3.1 rebounds) fell short of the 4.4 points and 11 rebounds he averaged the previous two seasons with Indiana.

“It was tough being in and out of the rotation,” Murphy said. “When my number was called, I tried to go out there and do what coaches asked of me and stayed ready for when they called.”

Murphy said the Lakers’ front office didn’t give much indication as to his future with the team.

“It’s an honor to play here, so much history, great fans, great players,” he said. “Every year you know you’re going compete for a championship.”

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