The Los Angeles Lakers have reached a one-year agreement with FC Barcelona point guard Marcelo Huertas, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The full contract details have yet to be disclosed.

Huertas, 32, has played overseas throughout his entire career, as he went undrafted in 2005. The Brazilian has spent the last four years with Spain’s FC Barcelona, averaging 7.6 points and 4.4 assists per game this past season.

Huertas has also played for DKV Joventut and Bilbao Basket of the Spanish League club. He also had a one-year tenure with Fortitudo Bologna in the Italian League before joining the Spanish League once again with Caja Laboral.

The 6-foot-3 guard was the South American Championship MVP in 2006 where he helped Venezuela (Caracas) capture a gold medal. He has also made the All-ACB team twice (2008, 2011).

The Lakers, who were in desperate need of extra depth at the point guard position, have now snatched one at a presumably cheap price, possibly the veteran’s minimum. Huertas may not put up enormous numbers on a nightly basis, but he is a seasoned player with high IQ, great intangibles, and excellent play making abilities.

In Byron Scott’s rotation, Huertas could perhaps play a Pablo Prigioni type of role where he can enter the game and stabilize the second unit in limited minutes while also mentoring the young players.

One of my strengths is playing in the pick-and-roll, finding open guys and making shots in the mid-range game off the dribble,” Huertas told Yahoo Sports in an interview in April. “If you look at the NBA rosters, there are unbelievable starting point guards, but maybe not as many guys who can come off the bench able to run the team, score the ball, as well as being able to be a leader for young guys,” Huertas continued. “Those are things I know I’ll be able to bring with me.”

The Lakers currently possess 12 guaranteed players, so if Huertas’ contract is unguaranteed, he will have to battle Tarik Black, Jabari Brown, Robert UpshawJonathan Holmes, and recently signed Michael Frazier for the final two or three spots on the roster. However, with Los Angeles’ backcourt not as crowded, Huertas has a terrific chance of landing a roster spot with the team. 

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Vahan Shakhpazyan
Vahan Shakhpazyan loves the NBA with a passion and has been an avid follower for 18 years. He is a UCR graduate with a BA degree in Creative Writing. The man behind the Facebook page NBA updates.