LA TIMES: Lakers' Ramon Sessions has options for his future

[WCDYNASTY]

Lakers' Ramon Sessions has options for his future

By Mike Bresnahan
March 22, 2012, 8:05 p.m.


An important answer from Mitch Kupchak was buried amid an avalanche of reporters' questions last week on Derek Fisher's departure and Ramon Sessions' arrival.

It was about Sessions' long-term future with the Lakers.

The 25-year-old point guard holds a player option next season for $4.6 million. Some of his new teammates expect him to opt out of his contract in a league where the average salary hovers near $5 million annually. It's a practical thing for Sessions to do if he keeps playing as he has in his first four games with the Lakers.

He becomes an unrestricted free agent if he opts out.

Free agency wouldn't begin until July, but the Lakers' general manager didn't seem overly concerned when asked whether Sessions would be the Lakers' point guard next season.

"Yes," Kupchak said. "That may mean he opts out. That may mean he doesn't opt out or he opts out and we re-sign him. I don't know how that's going to play out. But we were aware of that player option."

Sessions did not waive the right to opt out as part of the Lakers' trade with Cleveland last week.

"We have not made any decisions regarding his player option and whether he'll exercise it or not," said his agent, Jared Karnes. "Up until now, his focus has been where he was going to be sleeping [after the trade deadline]. Obviously, we're excited to be with the Lakers' organization and the great players there…

"It's a great fit for Ramon and when it's appropriate, we'll discuss his future and make a decision."

Sessions came to the Lakers on March 15, the day of the trade deadline.

He is averaging 12 points and six assists in only 25 minutes as a Lakers reserve, though a promotion to the starting unit might come as early as Friday against Portland.

Sessions broke through with his best game with the Lakers, a 17-point, nine-assist show in only 28 minutes of a 109-93 victory Wednesday over Dallas. He made seven of eight shots, had five rebounds and eased the load on Kobe Bryant, obviously an important task.

Just last month, Bryant complained that the Lakers weren't getting easy baskets, jealously noting the simplicity with which Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant scored his points. (Thank you, Russell Westbrook.)

Bryant seemed a lot happier after making 11 of 18 shots against Dallas.

"You saw me off the ball a lot more than probably you've ever seen me," Bryant told reporters in front of his locker. "My night was a lot easier. I had, what, 30 points? I didn't have to work for any of it because [Sessions] is doing all the penetrating and I was getting great screens."

LINK:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-fyi-20120323,0,4899189.story

[MiniMamba24]

so sessions might be promoted to a starter today against portland. i hope this is true

[WCDYNASTY]

so sessions might be promoted to a starter today against portland. i hope this is true

I hope so too, he most definitely deserves it the way he has been playing... not to mention that he's way out playing Blake.

[desertlakerfan]

so sessions might be promoted to a starter today against portland. i hope this is true

Blake will hopefully get his confidence back playing with the second unit against opposing backups. He really can't handle starting.

[snaquille oatmeal]

so sessions might be promoted to a starter today against portland. i hope this is true

your avi is perfect for this post

[MiniMamba24]

so sessions might be promoted to a starter today against portland. i hope this is true

your avi is perfect for this post

hadn't thought of that haha

[semi-sentient]

I've been a proponent of keeping Session with the reserves as long as he gets the bulk of his minutes with the starters, but it's hard to really oppose moving him to the starting lineup where everyone else will have such a big benefit.

Hopefully our bench doesn't go to complete crap with Blake "leading" the way.

[snaquille oatmeal]

I've been a proponent of keeping Session with the reserves as long as he gets the bulk of his minutes with the starters, but it's hard to really oppose moving him to the starting lineup where everyone else will have such a big benefit.

Hopefully our bench doesn't go to complete crap with Blake "leading" the way.

I guess there is an element of truth to the fact that Fisher made Blake look good, but it is also true that Blake did better with the reserves than the starters.

[eckoner]

Sessions to get the starting job tonight says Mike Brown!

[XXIV]

I've been a proponent of keeping Session with the reserves as long as he gets the bulk of his minutes with the starters, but it's hard to really oppose moving him to the starting lineup where everyone else will have such a big benefit.

Hopefully our bench doesn't go to complete crap with Blake "leading" the way.

I guess there is an element of truth to the fact that Fisher made Blake look good, but it is also true that Blake did better with the reserves than the starters.

Blake's job will be easier because he'll be going against back up point guards. Also, he's more accustomed coming off the bench with the reserves.

[KB24TBOTB]

I've been a proponent of keeping Session with the reserves as long as he gets the bulk of his minutes with the starters, but it's hard to really oppose moving him to the starting lineup where everyone else will have such a big benefit.

Hopefully our bench doesn't go to complete crap with Blake "leading" the way.

That's what I'm afraid of. Our bench used to blow leads but with sessions they would extend leads.

[DEEP3CL]

I don't get the idea of thinking Sessions was brought here to come off the bench when point guard was our weakest position. It's kinda common sense to think he would start at some point. If the idea was to play him from the bench why do you even trade Fish ?

Basketball is a sport where you have to start the game with your 5 best players, any coach in America will tell you this.

[StarneyBinston]

I don't get the idea of thinking Sessions was brought here to come off the bench when point guard was our weakest position. It's kinda common sense to think he would start at some point. If the idea was to play him from the bench why do you even trade Fish ?

Basketball is a sport where you have to start the game with your 5 best players, any coach in America will tell you this.

This.

Plus it will give Sessions more confidence. After his years as a bench player, knowing he's trusted into a starting job, especially on a team like the Lakers, could do wonders.

[TylersLakers]

Question:

Do his bird rights come along with him in a trade? Or does it start over.. meaning the only thing we can offer is the mini mid level?

[desertlakerfan]

Question:

Do his bird rights come along with him in a trade? Or does it start over.. meaning the only thing we can offer is the mini mid level?

we have his bird rights now

[Dr Aki]

ramon's current contract was signed as a twolf,

this would be year 3 of his 4 year contract. so yes we should have his bird rights

[So Gutta]

I like the confidence Mitch said he had in keeping Sessions.

All we need now is a bad ass SF.

[franklin]

Question:

Do his bird rights come along with him in a trade? Or does it start over.. meaning the only thing we can offer is the mini mid level?

He would be unrestricted so we don't have the option to match his best offer, but we can give him whatever amount we want not just an MLE or something like that (okay, before I get crap for that I mean any amount up to the legal maximum).

I think the Utah Jazz will try to steal him away from us if he opts out though. They need a young point guard and will be agressive if he keeps playing like this.

[Mamba Venom]

I like the confidence Mitch said he had in keeping Sessions.

All we need now is a bad ass SF.

Gerald Wallace!!!!!

[laduane1]

He will opt out and some other team will offer 8 million a year and he will be gone. We all knew he was not staying.