Backup point guard Shannon Brown agreed today to a two-year deal with the Lakers, including a player option for the second year, worth $4.2 million, according to his agent Mark Bartelstein.
Brown was also talking to the Indiana Pacers about a more lucrative deal but decided to return to the Lakers, his agent said.
"He's really happy to return to the Lakers. This is where he wanted to be. The Lakers treated him well during his short time there and he hopes to continue and improve his game," Bartelstein said.
Brown, 23, was basically a throw-in with Adam Morrison in the February trade that sent Vladimir Radmanovic to Charlotte. The Lakers are his fourth NBA team in three seasons.
Brown made $796,000 last season, well below the NBA average of $5.6 million.
But the 6-foot-4, 211-pound guard from Michigan State started to take some playing time away from the smaller Jordan Farmar as Lakers Coach Phil Jackson used Brown to defend some of the league's bigger point guards.
Brown got significant minutes in the playoffs against Utah, and point guard Deron Williams, and Denver, with point guard Chauncey Billups.
Overall, Brown played in 21 of the Lakers' 23 playoff games this spring and averaged 4.9 points and 13 minutes.
Brown was one of three significant Lakers free agents this summer. Forward Trevor Ariza agreed to terms with Houston after the Lakers agreed to terms with former Rockets forward Ron Artest. Meanwhile, the Lakers have not reached terms with unrestricted free-agent forward Lamar Odom.
broderick.turner@latimes.com
