The Lakers have signed 31-year old power forward Troy Murphy to a 1-year deal.  Murphy played in 35 games (4 starts) for the Celtics & Nets last year and he averaged 13.3 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He has now played in 656 games (481 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 28.5 minutes, 11.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  Murphy is an outstanding shooter for a player his size as he has made 38.9% of his shots from three point range in his NBA career.  If healthy, Murphy is going to really help the Lakers off the bench.

The Lakers have signed 24-year old power forward Josh McRoberts to a 2-year, $6.2 million dollar deal.  McRoberts played in 72 games (51 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 22.2 minutes, 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.  He shot 38.3% from three point range which is pretty solid for a guy his size.  McRoberts has now played in 155 games (54 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.7 minutes, 5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  McRoberts will help replace Lamar Odom a little bit.

The Lakers have dealt 32-year old forward Lamar Odom and a 2nd round pick in 2012 to the Dallas Mavericks for a first round pick in 2012 and a $8.9 million dollar trade exception.  Odom played in 82 games (35 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 32.2 minutes, 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  He played in 519 games (382 starts) in his seven years with the Lakers and he averaged 35.1 minutes, 13.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.  The money the Lakers saved by dealing Lamar Odom will allow them to make a legit run at acquiring center Dwight Howard from the Magic.

The Lakers have invited 25-year old SG/SF Gerald Green to training camp.  Green hasn’t playing in the NBA since the 2008-09 season with the Dallas Mavericks.  He has played in 181 games (41 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 16.0 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Green is known for his high flying dunks, so he might be able to provide Lakers’ fans some entertainment when he gets on the court….if he can make the team.

UPDATE:  (12/22/2011) – The Lakers have waived Gerald Green.

The Lakers have signed 30-year old SG/SF Jason Kapono to a 1-year contract worth the veteran’s minimum.  He played in 24 games (2 starts) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 4.6 minutes, 0.7 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  Kapono has now played in 482 games (87 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 18.3 minutes, 6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Kapono was inked because of his long range shooting prowess as he has nailed 43.7% of his shots from beyond the three point line in his career.

25-year old SG/SF Shannon Brown has opted out of his contract for the 2011-12 season with the Lakers.  Brown played in 82 games (0 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 19.1 minutes, 8.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  He played in 182 games (7 starts) in his three years with the Lakers and Brown averaged 18.7 minutes, 7.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  Shannon Brown is bolting for a few reasons.  He might get to start if he goes to another team and the potential is there for him to get a nice raise.  Brown was also drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers when Mike Brown was the head coach and he never gave him much of a chance to play.  Players don’t forget stuff like that.

The Lakers took 23-year old, 6’10″, 235 pound forward Ater Major with the 58th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.  Major played with three teams last year in Australia and Turkey and he played in 21 games in which he averaged 17.3 minutes, 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game.  The Lakers don’t see Major coming to the states any time soon, so this was likely a wasted pick.

The Lakers took 22-year old, 6’2″, 200 pound shooting guard Andrew Guedelock with the #46 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Guedelock played in 37 games last year for the College of Charleston and he averaged 35.2 minutes, 23.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.  He played in 140 games in his four years in college and he averaged 32.8 minutes, 18.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  Guedelock is also a good long range shooter as he nailed 41.2% of his shots from three point range in college.  Guedelock might get to back up Kobe Bryant next year if Shannon Brown leaves as a free agent.

The Lakers took 20-year old, 6’4″, 190 point guard Darius Morris with the 41st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Morris played in 35 games for Michigan last year and he averaged 34.8 minutes, 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He played in 67 games in two years in college and he averaged 29.8 minutes, 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.  Morris will be tutored by Derek Fisher in 2011-12, and he might replace him down the road.

31-year old small forward Matt Barnes has exercised his $1.9 million dollar option to return to the Lakers for the 2011-12 season.  Barnes played in 53 games (0 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 19.2 minutes, 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Barnes has now played in 497 games (162 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 21.1 minutes, 7.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  The Lakers are probably happy that Barnes is coming back because he’s a solid bench player who comes at the right price.