Free agent leftovers

Raja Bell will sign with the Utah Jazz because they can offer more money than the Lakers. Luke Ridnour will sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shaun Livingston will sign with the Charlotte Bobcats. Javaris Crittenton wasn't ready to play in the summer league after undergoing season-ending foot surgery last winter. So, the Lakers' next best option might be to simply re-sign Shannon Brown to fill the final guard vacancy on their roster. Bell would have provided a veteran presence off the bench. Ridnour could have supplied a sharpshooting option. Livingston and Crittenton would have been feel-good stories. But does anyone remember how high Brown can fly when he's in the open court? Look for a new deal to be struck sooner rather than later as the Lakers' roster takes shape.

Here's what Brown's agent, Mark Bartelstein told Yahoo!: "(Lakers general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) and I have been talking and we're getting there on something."