ESPN is reporting the Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent center Chris Kaman.
Three days after Dwight Howard spurned L.A.’s $130 million advances and chose to join the Houston Rockets, the team moved to sign the seven-foot center, who averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for Dallas last season.
Kaman , 31, who previously played eight seasons for the L.A. Clippers, also drew interest from Golden State, Sacramento, New York and Atlanta.
With Howard now in Houston and second-year man Robert Sacre now the only true center on the roster, the Lakers quickly moved to target Kaman. ESPN reports the team is also thought to be interested in bringing back one-time star Lamar Odom as well as adding veteran journeyman Elton Brand to the roster.
Even though the Lakers were in a position to offer Howard $30 million more than any other suitor, the team was always thought to be at a disadvantage based on his shaky relationship with coach Mike D’Antoni.
Howard used his postseason exit meeting to tell GM Mitch Kupchak he felt misused in D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense and was also bothered by what he thought to be D’Antoni’s lack of faith in him in not considering him one of the team’s leaders.
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