Ramon Sessions did not provide the Los Angeles Lakers the backcourt production they needed last season, and he could sense he was not wanted back. Sure enough, Steve Nash came over and the Lakers now believe they are talking championship again.
Sessions was courted by the Dallas Mavericks, but ended up signing with Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats, who could use the help. Sessions and the Bobcats agreed on a two-year contract worth about $11 million.
Sessions replaces D.J. Augustin, whose qualifying offer was rescinded earlier Thursday. The move made Augustin, last year’s starting point guard, an unrestricted free agent.
Sessions is entering his sixth season and averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 points per game last season for the Lakers with 19 starts. He’s previously played for Milwaukee, Minnesota and Cleveland and has averaged 11.1 points and 5 assists per game during his career.
Sessions opted out of his contract with the Lakers to sign with the Bobcats.
It’s unclear at this point who’ll be the team’s starting point guard. The Bobcats drafted Kemba Walker with the ninth pick in last year’s draft and Jordan likes the savvy of the former Connecticut star, although he’s a little undersized at 6-foot-1. Jordan has a major role in the decision to draft Walker, who played in spurts last season and had one triple-double as a rookie.
Augustin, the ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft, leaves after four seasons with the Bobcats.
