Jared Dudley To Sign With Los Angeles Lakers

We last saw veteran forward Jared Dudley wearing a Brooklyn Nets jersey while driving 76ers point guard Ben Simmons crazy with his strategically irritating antics during the NBA Playoffs. We’ll next see him likely contributing the same way, yet wearing purple and gold this time, traveling coast to coast and joining the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although another 6’7”,  free agent forward from San Diego who also formerly played apart the Eastern Conference certainly remains the focus point for the Lakers right now, Dudley’s signing adds depth to a depleted team following their trade to acquire Anthony Davis. Dudley and the Lakers inked a 1–year $2.6 million dollar deal that pays Dudley at the league minimum, strategically leaving the team with enough cap space to pursue other free agents. Last year, Dudley averaged 4.9–points and 2.6–rebounds per game yet mainly served as a key locker room presence for the young Nets squad last year. Dudley mentioned his valued ability to contribute to a team while as a guest on the Woj Podcast as he stated, “What I am is a high IQ basketball player, I see what the team needs. I’m teaching these young guys. Best believe if someone’s doing something to Anthony Davis or LeBron James I’ll step up, that is my role.”