NBA Sources: Lakers Try Out Gilbert Arenas

Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

While the Los Angeles Lakers were in Toronto on Sunday finishing off their six-game road trip, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was holding a private workout for free agent guard Gilbert Arenas, according to multiple sources.

Arenas, who turned 30 last month, looked “slimmed down” and “explosive,” according to a source with knowledge of the workout, but no signing is necessarily imminent as the guard flew back to his home in Orlando, Fla., from Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Arenas recently underwent a similar blood-spinning procedure on both of his knees and hips that Lakers guard Kobe Bryant visited Germany during the offseason to receive. Arenas was treated by Dr. Edward Capla in New York City. Capla used to work under Dr. Peter Wehling, who treated Bryant and New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez. After Arenas reported the procedure made his left knee, which had undergone three operations since 2006, feel springy again, he recommended Capla to former teammate and New Jersey Netsguard DeShawn Stevenson, who also received the treatment.

Bryant told reporters in Philadelphia last week his knee feels “90 percent better, just to not say 100” after visiting Wehling. Bryant has been in contact with Arenas and is supportive of bringing the guard who owns the Staples Center visitor’s scoring record of 60 points in a single game to the Lakers, according to multiple sources.

The former three-time All-Star has averaged 21.2 points and 5.4 assists in his 10-year NBA career, but registered just 8.0 points on 34.4 percent shooting in 49 games with the Orlando Magic last season. Orlando waived Arenas via the NBA’s amnesty clause provision during the preseason, taking the $62 million owed to Arenas over the next three seasons off of its salary cap.

If Arenas were to sign with the Lakers, they could only offer him the veteran’s minimum, worth about $1.4 million.

The Lakers cut forward Derrick Caracter on Tuesday, bringing their roster down to 14, thus opening up a spot to be able to sign Arenas. They are looking to add some help to their second unit as their bench averaged a league-worst 20.3 points per game coming into Sunday and were outscored 43-24 by the Raptors’ substitutes in a narrow 94-92 win in Toronto. The Lakers have also considered making a trade for Cleveland guard Ramon Sessions and Houston guard Jonny Flynn, according to ESPN the Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

Arenas’ workout was held at the Bel Air home of Lakers season ticket holder and L.A. Gear sneaker mogul Steven Jackson. Jackson’s house includes a private basketball court, painted as a replica of the Lakers’ home floor at Staples Center. The Miami Heat practiced at Jackson’s home last month prior to playing the Los Angeles Clippers.

WRITTEN BY Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com & FULL STORY HERE

Follow Dave McMenamin on Twitter: @mcten