Free-agent combo guard Shannon Brown is returning to the L.A. Lakers on a two-year deal worth $4.6 million, reports Chris Tomasson of NBA FanHouse. Brown opted out of his contract with the Lakers, which would have paid him $2.1 million this season, earlier this summer, hoping to secure more money in free-agency. He’s done that by signing this deal, which will pay him $2.2 million this season; the second year, worth $2.4 million, is a player option. Here’s what Mark Bartelstein, his agent, told Tomasson about the deal:
“The lure of the Lakers was too great,‘’ said Bartelstein, whose client had been looked at strongly by New York. "He didn’t want to look back and not have the chance to go for a third straight championship.’’
The electrifying high-flyer averaged 8.1 points and 20.7 minutes per game last season, both career-bests, while backing up Derek Fisher at point guard and Kobe Bryant at shooting guard. The Lakers initially acquired him from the Charlotte Bobcats the week before the trading deadline in 2009.