Since the departure of center Dwight Howard, the Lakers have made a significant amount of free agent signings that have Laker fans applauding General Manager Mitch Kupchack. At the beginning of the summer no one would have said that the biggest free agent signing and biggest press conference of the summer would be when the Lakers announce the arrival of center Chris Kaman, but that day has now come and the Lakers introduced Kaman on Tuesday.
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According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Kupchack referred to Kaman as an under-appreciated defender.
Mitch Kupchak at Chris Kaman’s press conference: “I think an underappreciated defender and offensively I think he’s going to fit in well”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2013
Kaman agreed to to join the Lakers after Howard had officially made his decision to head to Houston. The Lakers used their mini-midlevel exception to bring in Kaman. The contract was only for one-year $3.2 million, which fits very well with their plans moving forward for the much awaited 2014 free agent class.
Last year Kaman played with the Dallas Mavericks. He started 52 of the 66 games he played last season averaging 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds a game. But what Kupchack is referring to is that he is a willing center that will defend the opposing teams big man and not be afraid to bang down low in the paint, which is something that the Lakers would have been missing this season if they did not bring him in.
Kaman is a more than capable mid-range jump shooter who looks to be slated as the backup center to Pau Gasol and be a part of maybe a much improved bench for the Lakers. With all of the moves the Lakers have made in the past couple days, the team is looking like a team that might win some games and sneak into the playoffs.
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