Lakers Sign Drew; Lamp to Join Italian Team

The Lakers gained one guard and lost another Friday when they signed former Clipper Larry Drew to a multiyear contract and veteran Jeff Lamp signed to play with the Reyer team of Venice, Italy.

Drew, 31, is a 6-foot-2 free agent who averaged 23 points and five assists with Pesaro Scavollini of the Italian League last season. He is an eight-year National Basketball Assn. veteran who played his last two seasons in the NBA with the Clippers, averaging 10.3 points and 5.2 assists in 74 games in 1987-88.

“We are very pleased to welcome Larry back to the NBA and feel he will be a valuable member of our team,” General Manager Jerry West said. “He is a talented, experienced player who can play either guard position and should give us more versatility.”

Lamp, 30, appeared in 37 regular-season games for the Lakers last season and averaged 1.6 points. This will be his second season in Italy. He also played with Rimini in 1986-87 before signing with the Lakers.