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Mitch Kupchak didn't waste any time. The Los Angeles Lakers general manager grabbed his telephone one minute after free agency began precisely at 9 p.m. on Saturday night and dialed the number for Luke Walton's agent, Lon Babby. After a few hours of back-and-forth negotiating, Kupchak and Babby agreed Sunday afternoon on a new six-season, $30-million contract for Walton that will keep him in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform through the 2012-13 season. It's a hefty raise for Walton, who earned $1.4 million last season. "He's going to be in L.A. for a long time," Babby said. "We worked hard to see if there was a deal to be done with the Los Angeles Lakers first. We got other calls, but we decided to pursue the opportunity here. He wanted to stay in L.A." Walton was not immediately available for comment Sunday, but he might grant interviews today, Babby said. The Los Angeles Lakers cannot comment on the deal until July 11, the first day new contracts can be signed. Walton had a breakout season in 2006-07, averaging 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists while proving himself to be more than just the inconsistent backup forward he was in his first three seasons in the NBA. "They wanted him back and he wanted to be there," Babby said. Meanwhile, the search for further help continues as Kupchak attempts to upgrade the Los Angeles Lakers' roster after they went 42-40 last season and were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Phoenix Suns. The Los Angeles Lakers remain interested in a blockbuster deal that would bring them a marquee player to pacify disgruntled superstar guard Kobe Bryant. Kupchak said Thursday that the Los Angeles Lakers were not interested in granting Kobe Bryant's wish to be traded. Kupchak also said anyone else on the roster might be available if the deal was right. The Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing Minnesota's Kevin Garnett and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal. The Los Angeles Lakers are said to be interested in trading a package of players, including Lamar Odom, to acquire Garnett or O'Neal. When it comes to free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers are hamstrung because they can only offer the mid-level exception to the salary cap ($5.5 million per season). However, that might be enough to land a veteran point guard such as Steve Blake or Mo Williams to replace Smush Parker. Smush Parker will not be re-signed after two ineffective seasons.
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