Jordan Farmar reportedly returning to the Lakers
The Lakers have apparently agreed to terms with point guard Jordan Farmar, according to the Twitter feed of former UCLA basketball player Kristaan Johnson.
Farmar was at the function, said he signed with the @Lakers, nice to have him back in LA. — Kris Johnson (@PointForwardPro) July 10, 2013
Johnson, son of Marques Johnson, was part of the UCLA championship team in 1995.
Farmar, who was originally drafted by the Lakers in 2006 (26th pick), played four seasons with the franchise, winning NBA titles in 2009 and 2010.
After two years with the New Jersey Nets (since relocated to Brooklyn), Farmar went overseas to play for Turkish club Andolu Efes.
Farmar’s contract situation isn’t quite clear, but the Lakers can pay up to $575,000 toward a buyout with Andolu Efes -- in addition to the $1,106,941 contract the Lakers can offer Farmar at the league minimum salary for a player with six years of experience in the NBA.
It’s believed that Farmar would be turning down a significant windfall in Europe to make a return to the Lakers.
The NBA would reimburse the Lakers for about $223,000 of Farmar’s salary -- standard practice on a one-year minimum contract. Luxury tax would be charged on only the first $884,293 of his salary.
During his NBA career, Farmar averaged 7.7 points on 42.7% shooting from the field, with 2.8 assists a game. In his last year with the Nets (2011/12), Farmar shot 44% from three-point range.
With the 6-foot-2, 26-year-old Farmar, the Lakers would have three point guards, along with Steve Nash and Steve Blake, heading into the season. Blake may wind up being the starting shooting guard on opening night if Kobe Bryant is unable to return from Achilles’ surgery in time.
A Farmar signing might signal that the Lakers have moved on from guard Darius Morris, although General Manager Mitch Kupchak confirmed that Morris was invited to the Lakers’ summer league entry in Las Vegas.
The Lakers have yet to announce their summer league roster.
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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