The Lakers have signed 30-year old small forward Matt Barnes to a 2-year, $3.6 million dollar deal. Barnes played in 81 games (58 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 25.9 minutes, 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He has now played in 444 games (162 starts) in his 7 years in the NBA and he has averaged 21.3 minutes, 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Barnes took less money and playing time from the Lakers than he would have got if he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Barnes is hungry for a ring and that’s the type of player who fits right in with the Lakers. I love this signing for the Lakers.

The Lakers have signed 37-year old center Theo Ratliff to a 1-year, $1.3 million dollar deal. Ratliff played in 49 games (29 starts) for the Bobcats & Spurs last season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 800 games (533 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 25.5 minutes, 7.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game. Ratliff is #18 in NBA history with 1,963 blocks and he will be moving up that list in 2010-11 with the Lakers as he still appears to have some gas left in his tank.

The Lakers have re-signed 35-year old point guard Derek Fisher to a 3-year, $10.5 million dollar deal. Fisher played in 82 games (all starts) last season for the Lakers and he averaged 27.2 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has now played in 790 games (467 starts) in his 11 years with the Lakers and he has averaged 25.1 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Fisher is #9 all-time in games played (790), #2 in three pointers made (759) and #8 in steals (829) in Lakers’ history. The Heat courted Fisher but it was smart for the Lakers to bring him back. He will share the point guard spot with Steve Blake this season.

The Lakers have signed 30-year old point guard Steve Blake to a 4-year, $16 million dollar deal. Blake played in 80 games (38 starts) for the Clippers & Trailblazers last season in which he averaged 27.0 minutes, 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He has now played in 499 games (299 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 25.7 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Blake is a good shooter as he is a career 39.3% shooter from three point range. Blake will either be replacing Derek Fisher as the starting point guard or Jordan Farmar as the backup depending if one of them re-sign with the Lakers. This was a very good signing for the Lakers as Blake is a pretty good basketball player.

The Lakers have not given a qualifying offer to 23-year old point guard Jordan Farmar making him an unrestricted free agent. Farmar played in 82 games (0 starts) for the Lakers last season and he averaged 18.0 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 301 games (2 starts) in his four years with the Lakers and he has averaged 18.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Farmar has not closed the door on the Lakers but if he gets a starting job somewhere he is as good as gone.

24-year old shooting guard Shannon Brown has opted out of his contract for the 2010-11 season thus becoming a unrestricted free agent. Brown played in 82 games (7 starts) for the Lakers last season and he averaged 20.7 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He played in 100 games (7 starts) in his two years with the Lakers and he averaged 18.4 minutes, 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Brown has played the best basketball of his career with the Lakers but backing up Kobe Bryant doesn’t lead to big numbers on the stat line. I think Brown will go to the team that offers him the most P.T. and cash.