Lakers agree to trade first-round draft pick to Knicks

In an effort to reduce luxury-tax implications, the Lakers have agreed to trade their first-round pick in tonight's NBA draft to the New York Knicks.The Lakers will receive a 2011 second-round pick and $3 million from the Knicks. The Lakers declined to comment.By trading their pick, the 29th overall, the Lakers would not have any guaranteed contracts coming out of the amateur draft, a savings of $830,000 next season and $893,000 in 2010-11, according to the NBA rookie scale for the 29th pick.

The Lakers will still hold the 42nd and 59th selections, both of which are in the second round and are non-guaranteed contracts. Only first-round players get guaranteed money for at least two years.

The Lakers are trying to decrease the luxury-tax hit for a team that has already committed $74 million to eight players next season. By trading their pick, they would also have slightly more money to re-sign forwards Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom, who become unrestricted free agents July 1.

The Lakers' cost-control plan also calls for carrying only 13 players next season, two under the league maximum. The team hasn't that small a roster since also carrying 13 in 2002-03.

Future Olympian?

Ariza accepted an invitation to play in a USA Basketball mini-camp next month in Las Vegas.

Ariza is one of 25 players who will take part in the July 22-25 mini-camp, the first of several steps toward determining the make-up of the U.S. team at the 2012 Olympics.

Ariza, who turns 24 next week, will be joined in Las Vegas by Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala, Derrick Rose, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin, among others.