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 will be without 23-year old power forward Derrick Caracter for about two months due to surgery on his left knee.  Caracter played in 41 games (0 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 5.2 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.2 assists per game.  This is a bad break for the second year player, as Caracter was in line to see a nice bump in P.T. in 2011-12.

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.

24-year old Andrew Bynum is one of the better centers in the NBA when he plays.  That’s the problem though as he always seems to be banged up.  Bynum played in 54 games (47 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 11.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 332 games (240 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 24.3 minutes, 10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game.  Bynum is a player on the rise, but he will need good health to reach his full potential.

31-year old Pau Gasol will split his time between power forward and center this year.  The Lakers hope most of that P.T. comes at power forward.  Gasol played in 82 games (all starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 37.0 minutes, 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 731 games (725 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 35.9 minutes, 18.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game.  32-year old Lamar Odom will split his P.T. between power forward and small forward in 2011-12.  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 has now played in 829 games (678 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 35.6 minutes, 14.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  23-year old Derrick Caracter is #3 in line for the Lakers at power forward.  He played in 41 games (0 starts) as a rookie for the Lakers last year and he averaged 5.2 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.2 assists per game.

32-year old Ron Artest is nowhere near the player he used to be.  He played in 82 games (all starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 29.4 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  Artest has now played in 763 games (721 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 34.1 minutes, 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.  31-year old Matt Barnes will likely get more P.T. in 2011-12 for the Lakers.  He 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.  22-year old Devin Ebanks is likely #3 in line at small forward for the Lakers.  He played in 20 games (0 starts) as a rookie for the Lakers last year and he averaged 5.9 minutes, 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  31-year old Luke Walton appears to be on the way out for the Lakers.  He played in 54 games (0 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 9.0 minutes, 1.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  Walton has now played in 484 games (138 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 17.5 minutes, 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

33-year old shooting guard Kobe Bryant is still a force for the Lakers.  He played in 82 games (all starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 33.9 minutes, 25.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Bryant has now played in 1,103 games (955 starts) for the Lakers in his career and he is averaging 36.4 minutes, 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  The Lakers would like to start playing Bryant around 30 minutes per game to save his legs, but that won’t likely happen this year without Shannon Brown back.  27-year old Trey Johnson would be Kobe’s backup if the season started today.  Johnson played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Raptors & Lakers last year and he averaged 11.8 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  He has now played in 12 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 9.0 minutes, 3.2 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  20-year old rookie, 2nd round pick Darius Morris out of Michigan will push Trey Johnson for P.T.