| SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Free agent guard Ron Harper has agreed to a two-year deal to join his former coach Phil Jackson with the Lakers, ESPN's Mark Schwarz has reported.
Harper will get $2 million this season and $2.2 million next season to play in Jackson's triangle offense with the Lakers. Harper won three titles with the Bulls with Jackson as his coach. He is a long-armed defensive specialist who redefined his game after successful seasons with the Cavaliers and Clippers earlier in his career.
Harper is expected to sign the deal on Wednesday and take a physical.
Harper will fit right in with the Lakers, a team with plenty of scoring from Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice but not enough defensive stoppers for Jackson. Since averaging better than 20 points a game three seasons early in his career, Harper averaged less than 10 points a game in five seasons in Chicago. His career scoring average is 14.8. | 
