Former Laker Andrew Goudelock signs one-year deal to play in Russia

After failing to field any NBA offers that entailed guaranteed deals, Andrew Goudelock has accepted a one-year deal to play with the Russian basketball team BC UNICS Kazan.

The offer is worth “considerably more” than Goudelock would’ve made with an NBA minimum salary worth around $1 million, according to a source familiar with the details. But exact terms weren’t immediately provided.

The Lakers declined to grant Goudelock a $1.1 million qualifying offer, which would’ve made him a restricted free agent and enabled the Lakers to match any offer sheet he fielded. Although the Lakers invited him to play on their summer league roster, Goudelock joined the Chicago Bulls out of belief he’d have a better opportunity to showcase his skillset. He finished as Las Vegas Summer League’s fourth leading scorer, averaging 19 points on 47.1 percent shooting and 52.2 percent from three-point range in 28.5 minutes a game.

Goudelock will report to the team in Aug. 20 in anticipation of the regular season beginning in mid October.



The Lakers waived Goudelock during training camp this season, but he earned a spot in the rotation last season because of his outside shooting. Goudelock averaged 4.4 points on a 37.3 percent mark from three-point range in his rookie season last year with the Lakers. His shooting mentality earned him the nickname “Mini Mamba,” in reference to Kobe Bryant’s “Black Mamba” nickname.

Bryant’s season-ending torn left Achilles tendon prompted the Lakers to recall Goudelock from the Development League averaging a combined 21.1 points per game in two different stints with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Siox Falls SKyforce. Goudelock then posted a career-high 20 points on 8 of 17 shooting and three steals in 41 minutes in the Lakers’ Game 3 first-round loss to San Antonio. The Lakers may have still fallen in a four-game sweep, but Goudelock proved he can handle the playoff pressure.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com