djohn2oo8
06-19-2012, 11:35 AM
Point guard Ramon Sessions (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/ramon-sessions-PESPT0000010878.topic) will not exercise a player option to stay with the Lakers (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/los-angeles-lakers-ORSPT000104.topic) and will become a free agent, The Times has learned.
Sessions would have earned $4.55 million next season but chose to test the market. There’s still a chance that Sessions will return to the Lakers by signing a contract, but there’s no guarantee of it.
“Ramon has carefully considered this decision,” said Sessions’ agent, Jared Karnes. “He had to make a career decision and ultimately decided to do what was best in providing stability and longevity for him in the NBA (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/national-basketball-association-15008001.topic), and this could only be achieved through a multi-year contract.”
Sessions, 26, started off well with the Lakers after being acquired at the trade deadline, averaging 13.7 points and seven assists as a starter in 23 regular-season games.
He tailed off in the playoffs, however, his numbers dropping to 9.7 points and 3.6 assists a game and 37.7% accuracy. He had never been to the playoffs in four other NBA seasons spent mostly as a backup.
He had until Wednesday to decide on his option. Free agency begins June 30 at 9 p.m.
The Lakers acquired Sessions from Cleveland on March 15 for Luke Walton (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/luke-walton-PESPT008569.topic), Jason Kapono (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/jason-kapono-PESPT0000010810.topic), under $1 million in cash and a first-round pick that turned out to be 24th overall. The Lakers also received seldom-used forward Christian Eyenga (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/christian-eyenga-PESPT0000010736.topic) in the trade.
The Lakers now have only one point guard under contract next season. Steve Blake (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/steve-blake-PESPT000009470.topic) has two more years and $8 million remaining on his deal.
Darius Morris (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/darius-morris-%28basketball%29-PESPT000010548.topic) took the unusual step of signing a one-year deal as a rookie and is a restricted free agent after playing only 19 games with the Lakers.
Sessions suggested he would not exercise his one-year option in an April interview with The Times, hoping to work out a multi-year deal with the Lakers after becoming a free agent.
“I want to be here. I don’t know what that means or how that’s going to happen,” he said at the time. “It ain’t no secret. I’ll tell anybody that. I tell Mitch Kupchak (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/mitch-kupchak-PESPT000009433.topic). I tell my agent. I want to be here. Period. For a long time.”
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-ramon-sessions-will-not-exercise-option-to-stay-with-lakers-20120619,0,707808.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=53297
Sessions would have earned $4.55 million next season but chose to test the market. There’s still a chance that Sessions will return to the Lakers by signing a contract, but there’s no guarantee of it.
“Ramon has carefully considered this decision,” said Sessions’ agent, Jared Karnes. “He had to make a career decision and ultimately decided to do what was best in providing stability and longevity for him in the NBA (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/national-basketball-association-15008001.topic), and this could only be achieved through a multi-year contract.”
Sessions, 26, started off well with the Lakers after being acquired at the trade deadline, averaging 13.7 points and seven assists as a starter in 23 regular-season games.
He tailed off in the playoffs, however, his numbers dropping to 9.7 points and 3.6 assists a game and 37.7% accuracy. He had never been to the playoffs in four other NBA seasons spent mostly as a backup.
He had until Wednesday to decide on his option. Free agency begins June 30 at 9 p.m.
The Lakers acquired Sessions from Cleveland on March 15 for Luke Walton (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/luke-walton-PESPT008569.topic), Jason Kapono (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/jason-kapono-PESPT0000010810.topic), under $1 million in cash and a first-round pick that turned out to be 24th overall. The Lakers also received seldom-used forward Christian Eyenga (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/christian-eyenga-PESPT0000010736.topic) in the trade.
The Lakers now have only one point guard under contract next season. Steve Blake (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/steve-blake-PESPT000009470.topic) has two more years and $8 million remaining on his deal.
Darius Morris (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/darius-morris-%28basketball%29-PESPT000010548.topic) took the unusual step of signing a one-year deal as a rookie and is a restricted free agent after playing only 19 games with the Lakers.
Sessions suggested he would not exercise his one-year option in an April interview with The Times, hoping to work out a multi-year deal with the Lakers after becoming a free agent.
“I want to be here. I don’t know what that means or how that’s going to happen,” he said at the time. “It ain’t no secret. I’ll tell anybody that. I tell Mitch Kupchak (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/mitch-kupchak-PESPT000009433.topic). I tell my agent. I want to be here. Period. For a long time.”
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-ramon-sessions-will-not-exercise-option-to-stay-with-lakers-20120619,0,707808.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=53297