Report: Lakers to deal Vujacic for Smith

Published Dec. 14, 2010 12:00 a.m. EST

foxsports

Looks like the Lakers aren't counting on Andrew Bynum to provide a frontcourt boost all by himself.

The Lakers acquired veteran forward Joe Smith from New Jersey on Tuesday, according to various reports, in a deal that sent Sasha Vujacic and their first-round pick in 2011 to New Jersey.

Bynum, out all season recovering from knee surgery, made his debut tonight at Washington. But the Lakers moved to add the 6-foot-10 Smith, who's averaged 11 points and 6.4 rebounds in his 16-year career but has played sparingly this season.

They also rid themselves of Vujacic, averaging a career-low 1.8 points, and his $5.4 million salary.

The Nets also sent disappointing forward Terrence Williams, who was sent to the D-League earlier this season and inactive on Tuesday, to Houston for the Rockets' lottery-protected first rounder in 2012. He is averaging 6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season.

The trades can't be finalized until Wednesday due to NBA rules that prohibit players who signed in the offseason, as Smith did, from being traded.

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