Darius Morris accepts qualifying offer to stay with Lakers

Darius Morris, a backup point guard who played only limited minutes as a rookie last season, agreed Monday to accept a qualifying offer of $962,000 from the Lakers for next season. Morris played only 19 games and averaged only 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.9 minutes last season.

The Lakers expect him to join their summer-league team, which begins play July 13 in Las Vegas. Morris was one of a number of young players who were hurt by the lockout and the shortened 66-game season in 2011-12. First, summer league was canceled in 2011 and then there was little time for practice once the labor impasse ended.

Morris, who played at the University of Michigan and Windward High School in Los Angeles, was a second-round pick (41st overall) in 2011.