What Can Brown Do For You? Sign a Contract!!!
July 6th, 2009 | by Garrett Wilson |The Lakers may have decided to replace Trevor Ariza, but ESPN is reporting that the Lakers have seen fit to keep reserve guard Shannon Brown on board, agreeing to terms on a two year, $4.2 million contract.
I’m rich, biatch!!!!
If the size of the contract is any indication, the Lakers clearly have big plans for Brown. Considering that Shannon was on the verge of falling out of the league before his mid-season trade to the Lakers, he has done quite well for himself to earn the Lakers’ full bi-annual exception after performing well in his two-month audition with the Lakers. Rather than trying to ink Brown to a minimum contract, or slightly above it, they are giving the young guard a major vote of confidence and simultaneously sending a message to incumbent back-up point guard Jordan Farmar.
Already the Lakers are known to have been shopping Farmar this summer and this pay raise for Brown most likely seals Farmar’s fate. Mitch Kupchak has publically stated that the Lakers intend to only carry 13 players next season, Farmar is now a prime candidate to be dealt to a team with a trade exception or cap room in order to facilitate that desire. As a young point guard with an expiring contract, the Lakers shouldn’t have much trouble finding him a new address by summer’s end (I hope Farmar like Memphis barbecue).
If such a deal is struck, the combination of a reduced depth chart and a nice paycheck will put a lot of pressure on Shannon Brown’s shoulders to not only prove that he is worthy of the promotion but also as an heir apparent for Derek Fisher who is entering the last year of his contract. It would be a somewhat risky gambit for the Lakers to employ seeing how Brown has yet to prove that he can be a consistent producer at the NBA level, but his combination of size, athleticism and long-range shooting makes him an ideal fit for the triangle offense. In fact, by this time next season, we could very well be talking about what a bargain Brown is for just $2.1 million per year.
Tags: Breaking News, Derek Fisher, Free Agency, Jordan Farmar, Rumors, Shannon Brown
