Los Angeles Lakers: What’s Next for the Lakers After Ramon Sessions’ Opt Out?

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Lakers guard Ramon Sessions opted out of his player option for the 2012-13 season and will become an unrestricted free agent July 1. There is still the possibility the Lakers re-sign Sessions to a multi-year deal, but Sessions' move adds to the list of questions facing the Lakers this offseason.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was just as unsure as we all were on Sessions' future when he spoke with reporters Tuesday:

"I’m not quite sure if [Sessions is] completely aware of what the future holds for him beginning on July 1st. Beginning today, we have to plan for the contingency that he won’t be available as a free agent on a later date in July. And we have to make sure we have backup plans in place."

While Sessions previously said he was happy playing for the Lakers and expressed the desire to continue playing for the team, Kupchak would much rather preferred Sessions opt into his $4.55 million salary next season rather than test the free-agent market.

 

Contingency Plans

Quality managers plan for the worst and hope for the best. On the Sessions front, the "best case scenario" for the Lakers is kaput. Now, Lakers management will begin making other plans.

This almost certainly means Kupchak will re-sign Los Angeles' 2011 draft pick and restricted free agent Darius Morris. The Lakers reserve the right to match any offer from another team for Morris, who will likely not garner much demand on the free-agent market given his raw skills and limited playing time last season.



Morris is a cheap solution for point guard depth who will be all the more critical if Sessions walks. Lakers management is still waiting to see if Morris can develop in-game confidence at the NBA level before making him part of their long-term future. Still, the Lakers can likely sign him at price less than $1 million for next season.

Steve Blake is also set to ...