The Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday made official their signing of Josh McRoberts, the 6'10" forward entering his fifth NBA season out of Duke. McRoberts, who was picked in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Indiana Pacers, averaged a career high 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds for Indiana last season.
Roberts signed a two-year deal worth about $6.2 million, the mini mid-level exception, per Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
McRoberts, who started 51 of his 72 games in the 2010-2011 season, averaged 22.2 minutes per game last season. He figures to give the Lakers depth in the front court, as well as someone who can shoot from the outside on occasion. McRoberts made 38.3% (23 of 60) of his three-point attempts last season.
With center Andrew Bynum suspended for the first five games of the season and 6'9", 275-pound big man Derrick Caracter out four to six weeks with a torn mensicus, there is a reasonable chance that McRoberts could be the in the starting lineup to open the season on Christmas Day against the Chicago Bulls, at least given the current roster.
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