Banks Wants Full MLE, Cassell Two Years

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EL SEGUNDO - The Lakers introduced their first-round draft pick, point guard Jordan Farmar, to the media Thursday. Now they have turned their attention to acquiring a veteran free-agent guard to shore up their inexperienced backcourt.

The Lakers, who introduced first-round draft choice Jordan Farmar Thursday, will begin calling free agents tonight.

The courtship period for free agents starts Saturday -- General Manager Mitch Kupchak said he'll start making calls to free agents at 9:01 p.m. today -- and teams can start signing players 11 days later. The Lakers have a $5 million mid-level exception and are interested in spending it.

The Lakers will probably take a good look at Marcus Banks, who played in Minnesota last season, Sam Cassell (Clippers), Bobby Jackson (Memphis) and Speedy Claxton (New Orleans).

The Lakers had Banks for about week during the summer of 2004, but the trade in which they acquired him was rescinded when Gary Payton refused to report to Boston for his physical. Banks went back to the Celtics, and the Lakers ended up getting Jumaine Jones instead.

Banks was traded to the Timberwolves last season and played a total of 58 games, averaging 10 points on 46.8-percent shooting. The three-year vet has career averages of 6.5 points on 42.7 percent shooting.

Banks' agent, Mike Higgins, said the 24-year-old wants the full mid-level exception for five years, for a total of $29 million.

Higgins, aware that the Lakers were unable to sign Antonio Daniels for the mid-level last year because they offered just two years, said Banks will have Minnesota and several other teams vying for him this summer.

"If somebody offers the mid-level for five years to Marcus and the Lakers offer two, it's going to be tough for the Lakers no matter how much Marcus likes the Lakers," Higgins said by phone.

Jackson has told friends he'd love to play for the Lakers. But the Lakers question the 33-year-old's durability: He has often been injured in his nine-year career, and he's only once played as many as 81 games in a regular season.

"I would think that they would want a veteran guard who has playoff experience, and Bobby has that," Jackson's agent, Andy Miller, said by phone.

Cassell has said he wants to return to the Clippers and is willing to accept a one-year deal for $7.5 million with incentives. <u>He would take a two-year deal for $10 million from the Lakers.</u> But they are hesitant to sign Cassell because he'll be 37 next season.

The Lakers also have their biannual exception of about $1.65 million; they could break up the mid-level and use it on several players.

"A mid-level, at five years earning 10 percent (more) a year, is a good number," Kupchak said. "And there are a lot of players out there that would be enticed by that type of number. We have the ability to do that.

"Are there players out there that deserve the mid-level? Yeah, there's a couple of guys. But I don't know if we'll end up using it."</div>

I am confident that Banks or Cassell will be a Laker, mainly Cassell. Kobe wants him, Mitch will get him.

http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/...30.21905bd.html

 

Really? I haven't heard that. I heard the two teams were the Clippers and the Lakers. Do you have any links or anything suggesting that?

 

Bargain if Cassell only wants $10M for 2 seasons. He played heavy minutes last season, there's no reason to believe he can't do it again this year. Plus the Lakers have some young players to split time with Cassell.

It's a double bonus because it also takes Cassell away from the Clippers.