Los Angeles Lakers Said to Be Interested in Signing Raja Bell

With his former coach (Mike D’Antoni) and former nemesis (Kobe Bryant) being big fans of his, Raja Bell could end up in Los Angeles. The Lakers, you might recall, have flirted with the idea of signing the veteran guard in the past. They’re reportedly interested in exploring the possibility once more, according to Yahoo! Sports: “With a $100 million payroll and $30 million in additional luxury-tax expenditures, the Lakers are unsure about cutting a player, paying his salary and then paying the additional salary ($1.3 million) and tax that it would take to sign Bell. The Lakers have tried unsuccessfully for several weeks to trade bench players to create roster space. ‘The biggest question is the taking on of more money,’ a league source said. Bell is still under contract with the Jazz, but the team has allowed him to stay away this season until he finds a suitable offer and the two sides can execute a buyout. Once Bell has secured a contract for the veteran’s minimum elsewhere, the Jazz will buy out the difference on the remaining $3.5 million on his 2012-13 contract. Bell wouldn’t lose any money between the buyout and joining a new team. Utah has allowed Bell and his agent, Herb Rudoy, to search out deals elsewhere. The Chicago Bulls have shown some interest in Bell, too, but haven’t made any offers, league sources said. […] Bell has been working out in his hometown of Miami, preparing for his chance to return to the league.”