Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

azn kobe jr · 06-19-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Point guard Ramon Sessions will not exercise a player option to stay with the Lakers and will become a free agent, The Times has learned.

Sessions would have earned $4.55 million next season but chose to test the market. There’s still a chance that Sessions will return to the Lakers by signing a contract, but there’s no guarantee of it.

“Ramon has carefully considered this decision,” said Sessions’ agent, Jared Karnes. “He had to make a career decision and ultimately decided to do what was best in providing stability and longevity for him in the NBA, and this could only be achieved through a multi-year contract.”

well then...

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers...tory?track=rss

**King Sancho Fantastic** · 06-19-2012, 12:26 PM

Steve Blake our starting point guard...

Let that sit in for a second.

**Diable** · 06-19-2012, 12:41 PM

Lakers pretty much have to match anything that isn't certifiably insane. It's just too big of a hole if they let him go.

**Jamel Irief** · 06-19-2012, 03:04 PM

This is good news. Nobody is going to offer him more than the MLE and he's not going to leave us if the money is the same, unless his agent as an idiot like Ariza's and tries to play hardball when he can't afford to.

**King Sancho Fantastic** · 06-19-2012, 03:17 PM

Quote:

@ESPNLA710: @LAIreland: I've been told that the #Lakers are working on a long-term deal with Ramon Sessions

...

**King Sancho Fantastic** · 06-19-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

@KevinDing: Kupchak said if Sessions gets a big enough offer to leave, the Lakers still would have freed up "dollars to go another direction."

...

**King Sancho Fantastic** · 06-19-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Mitch Kupchak on Ramon Sessions

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak answered questions from the five beat writers who cover the team, including us here at Lakers.com, to discuss the decision of Ramon Sessions to opt out of the final year on his current deal.

Had Sessions picked up his option, he’d have been guaranteed to play for the Lakers in the 2012-13 season, where as he will now become a free agent starting on July 1 with the ability to sign with any team.

On Sessions not picking up his option:
Kupchak: The fact that he would not extend (his option) clearly puts him in the position where he’s an unrestricted free agent on July 1. With all situations like that, both sides have to absorb some risk. I’m not quite sure if he’s completely aware of what the future holds for him beginning on July 1. Beginning today, we have to plan for the contingency that he won’t be available as a free agent at a later date in July. We have to make sure we have back up plans in place.

I suppose we could look to fill that position between now and July 1 via a trade, or we can wait until July 1 and pursue Ramon, or perhaps another free agent, although we’re limited with the exceptions available to us. He did indicate that he was happy here in Los Angeles and that he would look to return. But once again, once the market comes into play, there’s no telling what will happen. We don’t know if he’s going to be back or not at this point, so we have to cover our bases, which (Ramon and his agent) understand. Beginning on July 1, it takes one team to make him an offer that we couldn’t or would not match; there’s a market value, and then there’s always a team that will do something beyond the market value. So that’s the whole process of uncertainty with becoming a free agent, but he’s represented by a really experienced agent and Ramon is a bright kid. We’ve talked it through and I think both sides are aware of the uncertainty that each side has to deal with.

On if Kupchak wants him back, or wishes he would have picked up the option:
Kupchak: My preference was that he would have extended for one more year.

On having few games with Sessions:
Kupchak: We had a shortened season, no training camp. He was traded to us in mid-March, which is late, probably about 20-something games to go. He’d admit that he wasn’t really familiar with playoff intensity – it was the first time he’d ever played in a playoff game. So I think he would indicate if he were talking to you right now that he thinks he’ll play better with a year of training camp, 80-something games and playoff (experience) under his belt next year, and I think he will too.

On Sessions as a player:
Kupchak: He’s an incredible athlete, he thinks the game, he understands the game, he’s great in the locker room, he wants to improve. I thought when he first got here he was very effective and I thought as we approached the playoffs and particularly the second round of the playoffs, he wasn’t as comfortable as he was at the beginning. Having gone through that many, many years ago, the playoffs are a completely different experience. The intensity level, the scrutiny, the awareness by the public. Typically you don’t see (young players succeed as much) under those conditions. I think he’d admit it wasn’t his best basketball. I look at our team, and not many of our players (played their best).

On if he’s surprised Sessions didn’t exercise the option:
Kupchak: No. Nothing surprises me at this point. He is a young player that’s going to get better, and now you’re dealing with a traditional unrestricted free agent situation, and there’s a number of different ways that can go.

On what the Lakers could offer Sessions as a free agent:
Kupchak: He falls into the unrestricted free agent category, and we have Bird rights with him. So I don’t believe we’re limited other than the maximum exemption, which obviously he wouldn’t apply for.

On what the team wants to do with Sessions moving forward:
Kupchak: Even if we did, I’m not sure I’d share it right now. You could have 8-10 teams that value him at a certain number, but maybe there’s another team that values him at a much higher number. We’ve been involved in situations like that in the past. We knew what his number was if he did extend. But it can work the other way too: the market might not be as good as he thinks it might be. But he’s a young, developing player who I think is going to get better.

On if this changes how he looks at the trade for Sessions with Cleveland:
Kupchak: There were several reasons why we made the trade. Obviously we were aware that he could elect not to extend. Like I mentioned earlier, that’s not what I was hoping for, but it frees up dollars to go in another direction if that’s what we choose to do. When we evaluated the trade three or four months ago, those were the things we talked about. We felt either way, we were in a good position, maybe one way a little bit better if he chose to extend.

On the free agent class:
Kupchak: There is always value. In terms of high profile names, I wouldn’t categorize this free agent class as one of the best ever, but there is always value out there depending upon how you define it. Whether it’s at the minimum, the mid-level or the mini-mid (level), there’s somebody out there every year that can play and help your club.

On Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris:
Kupchak: Andrew Goudelock is on a 2-year deal, so we have no decision to make there. Darius Morris – we have until June 30 to tender him a 1-year contract. If we do that, we retain his rights and we retain the right to negotiate with him beginning July 1.

http://blog.lakers.com/lakers/2012/0...amon-sessions/

e-monk · 06-19-2012, 04:03 PM

I think they'll keep him on the hook until they've at least looked at a couple other scenarios (Lowry/Scola trade, longshot Deron Williams S&T) and if those dont pan out then they'll work out something

Wilt_The_Stilt · 06-19-2012, 04:07 PM

I'm not seeing who is going to pay him big money. He's an upgrade over what we had but he's really a mediocre player as a starter.

e-monk · 06-19-2012, 05:03 PM

I think he can give us 14 - 7 on decent efficiency and provide some tempo and penetration while keeping the offense fairly fluid (if it ever gets installed)

LA68 · 06-21-2012, 09:19 PM

Would anyone consider Mo Williams who wants out of Clipperland for the Odom exception ? Or is that even legal ?

Or try to bring Mo and Ramon, two PG's who aren't really PG's ??

Hey, the Lakers are limited in what they can do. Have to at least look at all options.

**Bogg** · 06-22-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA68

Would anyone consider Mo Williams who wants out of Clipperland for the Odom exception ? Or is that even legal ?

It could, technically, happen, but the Lakers would have to have something to give the Clippers to make it worth their while. Obviously Gasol or Bynum aren't getting involved in any such talks, and the Clippers aren't taking back Artest when they already have Caron Butler. If Williams does opt-in and then demand out, I figure the Clips will give Detroit an early out on that Ben Gordon deal before they give up Williams for nothing.

**Luke** · 06-22-2012, 03:18 PM

I don't mind Ramon. He was shitty in the playoffs but whatever, it's not like it would have made a difference either way. He's still much better than anything else we have.

Please get Deron Williams Mitch. Please.

Edit: It's only fitting that my 10,000th post would be about the Lakers getting a better point guard.

I spend too much time on this site.

jazzy1 · 06-26-2012, 10:28 AM

Sessions was eh for us in the playoffs. He just seemded to crash and burn as the season went on the offense just sorta moved away from him and he lost confidence and agressiveness. He's not an elite pg but solid most of the time.

want him back on the right deal if not try and find an upgrade if possible.

**King Sancho Fantastic** · 06-26-2012, 11:23 AM

If we can land Deron (Big if) I wouldn't mind Sessions back as a backup, change of pace guard. Amnesty Blake.

06-19-2012, 12:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
King Sancho Fantastic -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Riverside, California Age: 29 Posts: 9,562 Rep Power: 7193604	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers Steve Blake our starting point guard... Let that sit in for a second. __________________ Rumble, young man, rumble...

06-19-2012, 12:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Diable Limehouse Blues Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,140 Rep Power: 14577544	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers Lakers pretty much have to match anything that isn't certifiably insane. It's just too big of a hole if they let him go. __________________

06-19-2012, 03:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jamel Irief KING OF THE INTERWEBZ! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Watching the Lakers Age: 96 Posts: 20,187 Rep Power: 14052088	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers This is good news. Nobody is going to offer him more than the MLE and he's not going to leave us if the money is the same, unless his agent as an idiot like Ariza's and tries to play hardball when he can't afford to. __________________

06-19-2012, 04:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
e-monk All-Star Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,663 Rep Power: 3201099	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers I think they'll keep him on the hook until they've at least looked at a couple other scenarios (Lowry/Scola trade, longshot Deron Williams S&T) and if those dont pan out then they'll work out something

06-19-2012, 04:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Wilt_The_Stilt Star Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3,974 Rep Power: 1038152	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers I'm not seeing who is going to pay him big money. He's an upgrade over what we had but he's really a mediocre player as a starter. __________________ "We've learned Kobe Bryant has been asked to run the Federal Reserve. The feeling is, he can do more with three quarters than most of us can do with a whole dollar." --Peter Vescey, NY Post

06-19-2012, 05:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
e-monk All-Star Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,663 Rep Power: 3201099	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers I think he can give us 14 - 7 on decent efficiency and provide some tempo and penetration while keeping the offense fairly fluid (if it ever gets installed)

06-21-2012, 09:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
LA68 Star Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,626 Rep Power: 899004	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers Would anyone consider Mo Williams who wants out of Clipperland for the Odom exception ? Or is that even legal ? Or try to bring Mo and Ramon, two PG's who aren't really PG's ?? Hey, the Lakers are limited in what they can do. Have to at least look at all options.

06-22-2012, 03:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
Luke Go Dawgs Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11,869 Rep Power: 4300832	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers I don't mind Ramon. He was shitty in the playoffs but whatever, it's not like it would have made a difference either way. He's still much better than anything else we have. Please get Deron Williams Mitch. Please. Edit: It's only fitting that my 10,000th post would be about the Lakers getting a better point guard. I spend too much time on this site. __________________ Formerly VanillaPrice Last edited by Luke; 06-22-2012 at 03:43 PM.

06-26-2012, 10:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
jazzy1 All-Star Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 9,423 Rep Power: 587126	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers Sessions was eh for us in the playoffs. He just seemded to crash and burn as the season went on the offense just sorta moved away from him and he lost confidence and agressiveness. He's not an elite pg but solid most of the time. want him back on the right deal if not try and find an upgrade if possible.

06-26-2012, 11:23 AM	#15 (permalink)
King Sancho Fantastic -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Riverside, California Age: 29 Posts: 9,562 Rep Power: 7193604	Re: Ramon Sessions will not exercise option to stay with Lakers If we can land Deron (Big if) I wouldn't mind Sessions back as a backup, change of pace guard. Amnesty Blake. __________________ Rumble, young man, rumble...

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