Jelani McCoy a Laker again? (UPDATED) | P-mo's Blog

UPDATE: McCoy signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

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According to a few sources, including Hoops Hype, former UCLA center Jelani McCoy had a workout with the Los Angeles Lakers this week.

While Ronny Turiaf left a big void in the middle of the Lakers' bench, I highly doubt McCoy is the ideal replacement. If anything, McCoy is on par with DJ Mbenga, coincidentally a free-agent.

Here is what his agent, Giovanni Funicello, had to say to the media:

"We are waiting on some other clubs that have shown interest in Jelani. We shall see our next move. He has lucrative offers overseas, but we have looked more towards the NBA... Not to say if something very interesting comes our way we wouldn’t entertain it."

Lucrative offers overseas, eh? But c'mon! Jelani McCoy? Now I went to UCLA the same time as he did, and he was good enough in college (he was the school leader in blocked shots in 1998).

I guess if you are 6-10, played a few games in the NBA and had a solid career at UCLA, offers will continue to roll in left and right.

McCoy did play with two international clubs. In 2006, he signed with Viola Reggio Calabria of Italy. One year later, he joined Spain's Menorca Basquet, but was later dismissed.

Afterwards, he came back to the NBA. He currently plays for the Lakers D-League team, the L.A. D-fenders.

Throughout his career, which included stints with the Supersonics, Nuggets, Raptors, Cavaliers and Hawks, McCoy averaged 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. If he signs with Los Angeles, this will be his second tour of duty with the Lakers. He played 21 games for the purple-and-gold in 2002, averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per games.

It'll be interesting to see if the Lakers sign him, especially if DJ Mbenga does not return.