Lakers Nation – According to a Tweet that appeared in the feed of Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner, Lakers’ backup guard Shannon Brown will exercise his player option and opt out of his contract with the Lakers, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. Brown signed a two year contract with the Lakers last summer, with the second year being a player option for Brown. Brown, who started off the 2010-11 season well, struggled in the second half of the season and was a member of the Lakers’ bench that was heavily outplayed by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Although no possible destinations have been linked to Brown, he is reportedly still considering a return to the Lakers, with whom he has won two NBA championships with in two and a half seasons with the franchise. Brown averaged just over eight points per game with the Lakers in 2010-11, while playing in all 82 regular season and all 10 postseason games.
Not much of a history buff, are you Shannon Brown? I know this isn’t entirely shocking news for Lakers fans. We kinda figured Shannon would do this. But, man… history speaks volumes to this situation. Lamar Odom knew his role with the Lakers and now he’s got a couple championship rings to show for it. He could’ve left. He didn’t. Trevor Ariza did not know his role, so he decided to leave L.A. after only one ring and where’s he now? He’s in New Orleans. Remember them? They lost to the Lakers in round 1 of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Please Shannon, be smart. Come back to the Lakers, know your role…because if you leave, you’re just going to lose to them…and you’ll have to retire someday knowing that Adam Morrison has the same number of rings that you do.
-bp