Matt Barnes is going back to Los Angeles, this time to join the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers.
The Lakers announced Thursday they had signed the free-agent forward. Terms were not disclosed.
Barnes, a UCLA product who started 58 games last season for Orlando, said earlier this week on his Twitter page that he was headed to Toronto. But the deal fell through, and the Lakers moved in to grab the seven-year veteran.
HOME PAGE: Inside the Lakers
The well-traveled swingman will be joining his eighth NBA team. He has averaged 7.3 points, with a career high of 10.2 for Phoenix during the 2008-09 season.
The Lakers also announced Thursday that veteran center Theo Ratliff (FSY) agreed to a one-year deal.
Ratliff said he'll join the two-time defending champs as a backup to 7-foot stars Pau Gasol (FSY) and Andrew Bynum (FSY).
The 15-year pro played 49 games last season with San Antonio and Charlotte, averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds. He revived his career while starting 26 games with the Bobcats, averaging 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.54 blocked shots.
The Lakers will be the 37-year-old Ratliff's ninth NBA team. The defensive specialist had his most productive seasons with Philadelphia, averaging a career-best 12.4 points in 2000-01.
SOURCE: The Associated Press
Comments |  RSS |
|
