Lakers to add F Dudley on 1-year, $2.6M deal

Free-agent forward Jared Dudley has agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN.

The Lakers are starting the process of fortifying a depleted roster beyond LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma with veteran players on minimum contracts, and Dudley brings a versatile and savvy game to the Lakers.

Kuzma took to Twitter on Tuesday night to welcome Dudley, who changed his avatar to a photoshopped image of himself along with James and Davis in Lakers uniforms.

Dudley is coming off a productive season with the Brooklyn Netsin which he averaged five points in 20 minutes per game. He played the role of the irritant against the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Both Brooklyn and the Detroit Pistons were interested in signing Dudley, but he was determined to get a chance to play for the Lakers. Dudley is a native of San Diego.

The Lakers are still pursuing free agent Kawhi Leonard with their available salary-cap space.