NBA Rumors: Cedi Osman Wasn’t Offered Lakers Contract Before Signing Deal in Europe

Rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers extended a training camp invite to seven-year NBA veteran Cedi Osman, who signed a one-year deal with reigning EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos on Saturday, are reportedly unfounded, per longtime NBA insider Marc Stein.

“It has been reported in Europe that Turkish swingman Cedi Osman turned down a training camp invite from the Lakers before signing with Panathinaikos in Greece, but sources close to the situation told The Stein Line that no such offer was extended by L.A. despite LeBron James’ well-known fondness for Osman dating to their days as Cavaliers teammates.

“The Lakers have 15 guaranteed contracts and are less than $50,000 away from crossing into second apron luxury tax territory, so there would be no reasonable pathway to add Osman to the team even had he come to camp and played well. Sources say that the 29-year-old, who played in San Antonio last season, signed a one-year deal with Panathinaikos in hopes that he can play his way back to the NBA next season.”

The 29-year-old Osman has played seven NBA seasons. He began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 before the team dealt him to the Spurs in a three-team trade that also involved the Miami Heat.

Last year, Osman averaged 6.8 points on 47.9 percent shooting (38.9 percent from three) in 17.6 minutes per game. He played in 72 games and started three.

Osman became a free agent after the season and ended up signing a one-year deal with the Greek professional club, which also notably agreed to a two-year deal this offseason with ex-NBA wing Evan Fournier.

So Osman isn’t a Laker, but as Stein noted, it appears that he’s hoping to return to the league down the road. Osman is a good shooter who should have plenty left in the tank when he becomes available again for NBA teams to pursue next offseason. If there’s any interest on the Lakers’ end, perhaps it could be realized down the road.

For now, though, L.A. is set for 2024-25 as the team readies for its Oct. 22 season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves and hopes to bounce back from a first-round playoff exit last year.