Lakers: Roster Finalized, Green Waived

The Los Angeles Lakers waived guard Devin Green to set their regular season roster at 15 players.  Though the Lakers are fond of Green, the only other Laker close to expendable is Aaron McKie.  Considering his $2.5 million salary is guaranteed, the team decided to keep the oft-injured McKie.

Before signing this summer, the Lakers tried to get both Green and J.R. Pinnock to play overseas.  That would have given both players a chance to make the roster next season while maintaining the Laker rights.  Instead both rolled the dice on the chance they could make the squad.  Sadly, it didn't work out and both will need to find employment elsewhere.  They could end up on the Los Angeles D-Fenders, but the Lakers no longer have either's rights.

If a roster spot becomes available mid-season, both could be considered . . . as could former-Laker Laron Profit.

Brian Cook and the Lakers have not agreed on a contract extension.  Cook will end up going through the restricted free agency process next summer.  Terms of the negotiation have yet to leak out.

Other Lakers in the final year's of their contracts include McKie, Chris Mihm, Smush Parker, Luke Walton and Shammond Williams.  Because Ronny Turiaf's 2007/8 salary is non-guaranteed, he can technically be considered a last year contract as well.

The season will begin Tuesday night at Staples Center against the Phoenix Suns.  The Laker roster stands as the following, though the regular rotation is not clear at this time:

PG:  Smush Parker\Jordan Farmar\Sasha Vujacic\Shammond Williams
SG:  Kobe Bryant\Mo Evans\Aaron McKie
SF:  Luke Walton\Vladimir Radmanovic
PF:  Lamar Odom\Brian Cook\Ronny Turiaf
C:   Andrew Bynum\Kwame Brown\Chris Mihm

Both Brown and Mihm are out with injury.  It's not certain when Williams and McKie will be absolutely ready to go as well.  Radmanovic has a torn ligament in his shooting hand.  It would seem that surgery is inevitable.  The question is can he play hurt or should the Lakers shut him down until fully healed?

If Luke Walton continues to play as well as he has throughout the pre-season and if Cook can manage to hit seemingly every shot he tosses up, how necessary was the Radmanovic signing?

Kobe Bryant is expected to play against the Phoenix Suns.  How healthy his knee truly is will have a major impact on the season.  This cannot be over-stated.

Andrew Bynum, starting in place of the injured Brown and Mihm, seems intent in keeping the position.  He still has a very long way to go, especially defensively, until he's ready to be a full-time starter ... but considering he is thought to be the long-term future of the Lakers perhaps it is best to let him learn on the fly.

How well a tandem of Bynum and Turiaf can hold down the center spot will go a long way in determining the Laker futures of Brown and Mihm.

The rotation in the back-court is far from settled, but it would appear that Jordan Farmar has a shot to be a regular contributor even as a rookie.

A number of interesting players were waived league-wide.  While anticipating the chance that Farmar would not be available at the Lakers' pick on draft night, LA worked out James White numerous times.  The Indiana Pacers went as far as to trade three second round picks to acquire him on draft night.  Unfortunately he didn't have a strong pre-season and in a numbers game (similar to what just happened to Devin Green), White was cut.

Another player the Lakers have had a casual interest in over the years was waived despite an outrageous salary.  The New York Knicks cut Jalen Rose and his near $17 million salary.  Rose has spoken very highly of Bryant and the Lakers in the past, going as far as to say he'd even play for the team for free given the opportunity.

Unfortunately, the Lakers are unlikely to pursue any additional players at this time.

For more on this article check out www.hoopsworld.com

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