Lakers Open Talks With Mike Miller

Mike Miller might get his wish to play for a contender, and play closer to home according to ESPN:

Miller would provide a sure outside stroke the Lakers have lacked and help shore up a bench unit that could lose up to 22.5 points a game in scoring if free agent reserves Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell, D.J. Mbenga and Adam Morrison all leave for new horizons.

Miller earned $9.8 million last season and would need to take a significant paycut to join the Lakers.

Miller could receive the full mid-level exception from the Lakers, which would be worth 30 million over five years. This seems rather reasonable, as both Drew Gooden and Amir Johnson, stiffs in comparison, agreed to outrageous contracts yesterday. There has also been interest in Miller from New York as well as Boston.