The league’s dead period comes to an end Wednesday, with teams able to sign free agents.Nothing has changed in the last few days for the Lakers, whose plan going into the July 1 negotiating period was to re-sign guard Sasha Vujacic and forward Ronny Turiaf, two valuable reserves on their Western Conference championship team last season.
However, there appears to be a backup plan in place in case GM Mitch Kupchak can’t get deals done with Vujacic and Turiaf, who are restricted free agents.
Kupchak reportedly has expressed an interest in signing unrestricted free agent Brent Barry in case he can’t get a deal done with Vujacic. Kupchak also has talked with the agents for swingman James Posey and forward Kurt Thomas in case he can’t retain Turiaf.
Kupchak also hopes to sign Chinese guard Sun Yue, a second-round draft pick in 2007.
The next few days could be busy ones for Kupchak.