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The Los Angeles Lakers used their mini mid-level exception to sign free agent big man Chris Kaman to a one-year, $3.1 million contract this summer but he's fallen out of the team's frontcourt rotation. Kaman spoke with media during the Lakers' shootaround prior to their game against the Atlanta Hawks Monday and said he "probably wouldn't have come" if he knew he would not receive playing time, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
He's played a total of 17 minutes over the past month, playing in a single game in December. In comparison, second-year center Robert Sacre has played in five games in December and has seemingly found a niche in the Lakers rotation. Kaman has also missed time because of back soreness and stomach issues.
Kaman is averaging 8.3 points per game -- his lowest in the past nine seasons -- on 50 percent shooting along with 5.1 rebounds per game. He's also averaging a career-low 16.8 minutes per game. Ben Rosales dissected the Lakers' logjam in the frontcourt with Pau Gasol, Jordan Hill, Kaman and either Shawne Williams or Wesley Johnson on occasion and named Kaman an expendable trade asset.
In the meantime, Kaman said he intends to stay positive, continue working hard and if it doesn't work out then it wasn't meant to be.
