Guard Shannon Brown to re-sign with Lakers

Basketball Betting Lines

08/05/2010 -

LOS ANGELES (AP) -Shannon Brown is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, turning down more lucrative offers for a shot at a third straight championship.

Brown's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the high-flying free agent guard agreed to a two-year deal worth $4.6 million to return for his third season with Los Angeles.

``He's been there two years, and they've won two championships,'' Bartelstein said. ``There's very few times you have a chance to go for a threepeat. When you have that opportunity, he couldn't pass it up.''

The Lakers acquired Brown in a trade in early 2009, and he quickly earned a role in their rotation as a backup to Kobe Bryant. Brown also became a crowd favorite for his acrobatic dunks, earning an invitation to last season's dunk contest at All-Star weekend.

Brown averaged career highs of 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season while playing solid defense for the Lakers. His role could grow next season if Los Angeles attempts to reduce Bryant's minutes to keep him fresh for another postseason, although Brown again will be competing for minutes with Sasha Vujacic.

After opting out of his contract earlier this summer, Brown spent the past four weeks considering offers from several teams, including New York, Cleveland and New Orleans. Most offered longer deals with more security, but little shot at title contention.

After the Michigan State product bounced around the NBA with four teams in his first three seasons, comfort and championships were more important than a little extra cash - and if Brown has another strong season, he can opt out of the second year of his deal again next summer.

``He loves everything that's happened for him in L.A.,'' Bartelstein said. ``He had more lucrative offers out there for sure, but he wanted to keep going with the Lakers.''

The deal pushes the NBA's highest payroll even higher to almost $95 million - well over the likely threshold for the luxury tax, which owner Jerry Buss has been willing to pay while his team wins championships.

The Lakers signed Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff last month to bolster their bench, which had no consistent contributors beyond Lamar Odom and Brown last season.

Brown's signing will put 12 veterans under contract with the Lakers, who also are interested in signing second-round draft picks Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter. Los Angeles had 13 players last season.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Wwwteamtalk Basketball Betting News

<< Nebraska's move a sour note for KU fight song
For almost a century, the Kansas fight song has boasted about husking corn and listening to the Cornhuskers' ``wail.''Come October, the classic standard ``I'm A Jayhawk'' will be revised to account for Nebraska's move to the Big Ten next year and Co

<< Royals designate Guillen for assignment
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals designated outfielder Jose Guillen for assignment on Thursday to make room for the team's younger players to receive more playing time. Guillen, 34, was in the midst of his thir

<< Green Bay Packers 2010 Season Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Green Bay Packers had their chips down before folding in the wild card round of the playoffs last year. Now, it's time for one of the projected top teams in the NFC to ante up. Not since Brett Favre's prime have the Pa

<< Texas, Notre Dame to begin four-game series in 2015
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Notre Dame and Texas, two of the winningest football programs in NCAA history, will begin a four-game series in 2015. The series will begin in South Bend in 2015 and continue in Austin in 2016. After a

<< Pitino's accuser guilty of extortion
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Karen Sypher was reportedly convicted of extorting money from Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino by a federal grand jury on Thursday. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the 12-pers

NCAA says WVU football commits rules violations >>
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -West Virginia student managers, graduate assistants and other non-coaching staff worked with football players on their skills and techniques in violation of NCAA limits during the Rich Rodriguez era and under current coach Bi

Strange ending helps Twins earn split in Tampa Bay >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Kubel's fluke go-ahead run-scoring single in the top of the ninth lifted the Minnesota Twins to an 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a four-game set at Tropicana Field. Tied at 6-

Lakers and Brown agree to two-year deal >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers and guard Shannon Brown have reportedly agreed to a two-year deal on Thursday. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Brown's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said the deal is worth abou

Orioles place P Hernandez on DL >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles placed pitcher David Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Hernandez is suffering from a left ankle sprain and on the season he is 4-3 with two saves and a 3.29 earned r

Wozniacki moves into Copenhagen quarters >>
Copenhagen, Denmark (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Danish favorite Caroline Wozniacki needed all three sets to win her second-round match Thursday at the $220,000 e-Boks Sony Ericsson Open. The 2009 U.S. Open runner-up Wozniacki dropp

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.