| Lakers sign Chinese guard Sun |
| DATA： 2008-08-27 |
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| In this Aug. 18, 2008 file photo, China’s Sun Yue (9) is defended by Greece guard Dimitrios Diamantidis during a men’s basketball game at the Olympics in Beijing.SD-Agencies |
Sun, a second-round pick in the 2007 NBA draft, agreed to a two-season contract earlier this month but delayed signing on the dotted line until after the Beijing Olympics. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“He’s really looking forward to it (joining the Lakers),” said Charles Bonsignore, Sun’s agent. “The Olympics gave him kind of a boost.
“He’s optimistic and, obviously, a little bit excited.”
Sun averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in six games for China in the just-completed Olympics. China did not win a medal and did not give Team USA much of a game in the opening game Aug. 10.
The 23-year-old Sun played three seasons for the Beijing Aoshen Olympians, including 2005-06 when the team played its home games at Azusa Pacific. So, he is familiar with the Los Angeles area.
“His adjustment will be pretty easy,” Bonsignore said. “It’s not like he’s coming here out of the blue like some of the other guys who come over.”
Sun will compete for playing time with Jordan Farmar in the Lakers’ backcourt. He also gives the team an added foreign presence, joining Pau Gasol of Spain, Vladimir Radmanovic of Serbia and Sasha Vujacic of Slovenia.
In other news, the Lakers expect to learn in a few days when Kobe Bryant will undergo surgery on his damaged right pinkie. Bryant was injured in a Feb. 5 game against the New Jersey Nets, but put off surgery until after the Olympics.
Training camp begins Sept. 30 in El Segundo.(SD-Agencies)