Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve former guard Sasha Vujacic, who reportedly tried out for the New Orleans Pelicans.
There have been some Los Angeles Lakers rumors involving players who used to play for the team in recent days. Former center, Andrew Bynum, has been in the news recently as he attempts to make a comeback to the NBA.
Bynum recently worked out at the Lakers facility and is hoping to land a deal with a team prior to training camp. Bynum was apart of the Lakers‘ back-to-back championships in the 2008-09 and 2009-10. He isn’t the only member from that team trying to get back into the NBA.
Unfortunately, that person is not Kobe Bryant returning to the NBA. Instead, it was a player that Bryant had an infamous exchange with, in Sasha Vujacic.
Vujacic last played in the NBA for two seasons with the New York Knicks from 2015-2017. Phil Jackson was running the Knicks at the time and decided to add Vujacic to the team’s bench.
Vujacic returned to the NBA with the Knicks after one season overseas. He spent the 2017-18 season overseas as well and is now looking to get back into the league. Last season was the third stint overseas Vujacic did in between his NBA appearances.
According to Andrew Lopez of The Times-Picayune, Vujacic was working out with the New Orleans Pelicans. Vujacic was asking about places to eat in New Orleans in the French Quarter, and now we know why he was there.
Source tells me Sasha Vujacic was in New Orleans today for a try out with the #Pelicans. The 34-year-old Vujacic last played in the NBA in 2016-17 w/ the Knicks. Played last season in Italy. https://t.co/EDi9YFUYxM
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) September 11, 2018
The Pelicans backcourt saw some changes this offseason, the biggest of which was Rajon Rondo leaving. Rondo ended up signing a one-year deal with the Lakers worth $9 million. In his place, the Pelicans signed Elfrid Payton, but they had been looking for more backcourt help recently.
The Pelicans signed Tyrone Wallace to an offer sheet, but the Los Angeles Clippers matched it. As a result, they were dipping back into the free agency pool and Vujacic was next on their list.
In 10 season in the NBA, seven of which were with the Lakers, Vujacic averaged 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 15.3 minutes per game. He has appeared in 581 games, 58 of which were starts.
Vujacic would add some veteran experience to the Pelicans that was lost when Rondo signed elsewhere. Finding minutes in what is shaping up as a crowded backcourt will be difficult, but he at least brings leadership at the end of the bench.