Lakers sign free-agent McRoberts

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free-agent forward Josh McRoberts to a two-year contract.

The Lakers announced the deal Wednesday with McRoberts, a four-year NBA veteran who spent the past three seasons with the Indiana Pacers.

The Duke product averaged career highs of 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while starting 51 games for Indiana last season.

The six-foot-10 McRoberts could get playing time early with the Lakers, who traded Lamar Odom to Dallas last weekend after the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year got angry about Los Angeles' attempts to deal him for New Orleans point guard Chris Paul.

Andrew Bynum will miss the first five games of the regular season under suspension, and backup forward Derrick Caracter had surgery Wednesday on torn cartilage in his left knee.