The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with numerous injuries that have forced many role players to take on greater roles this season.
Shooting guard Jodie Meeks came into the season as the top shooting guard until Kobe Bryant returned from injury. Once players starting going down, the 26-year-old was thrust into a starting role and was the Lakers’ leading scorer early in the year.
According to Eric Pincus of the LA Times, Meeks is on pace to hit some contract incentives if his minutes remain the way they are:
If he averages at least 20 minutes through a minimum of 70 games, Meeks will earn an additional $100,000.
Meeks is currently at 31.6 minutes per game and would raise his salary even higher if he keeps that pace up via Pincus:
Should Meeks stay at 25 minutes a game or higher, he’ll be rewarded with an additional $100,000.
The extra $200,000 would bump his salary up from his base of $1.45 million to $1.65 million. Meeks reached a similar incentive last season when he averaged 21.3 minutes per game and earned an extra $100,000. With the injuries, Meeks has spent time at point guard and shooting guard and is the team’s fourth-leading scorer behind Nick Young, Pau Gasol and Bryant. He is averaging 13.6 points and 1.27 steals per game, while starting in 30 of the team’s first 37 games. Bryant, Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar are all out for at least a few more weeks, meaning that Meeks will continue to get a bulk of the playing time at the guard position.
The three-point specialist is hitting 38.6% of three-pointers this season and is 43.6% from the field. He has improved his ball handling and play around the basket to become one of the top offensive threats for the Lakers. Meeks’ deal will be up after the season and will have to show the Lakers that he deserves to come back.
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