Lakers agree to two-year deal with Jordan Hill

The Lakers appear to have found their starting center, agreeing to terms Friday with free agent Jordan Hill.

Hill will re-sign with the Lakers for two years and $18 million. The second season is a team option, helping to give the Lakers the chance to preserve cap room for next summer if needed.

Hill, who will be 27 on July 27, averaged 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a game for the Lakers last season in 72 games.

“I don’t think Jordan has ever wanted to leave L.A.,” his agent Bill Duffy said. “He has bounced around a bit but is looking for some stability in his career. He wants to be part of the future. His heart and soul was maintained in L.A.”

Earlier Friday, the Lakers agreed to trade for Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin. They also came to terms with swingman Nick Young, who will re-sign for four years and $21.5 million.

Unless the team trades Steve Nash without returning salary, or stretches his $9.7-million salary over three seasons, Friday’s developments would make a return by Pau Gasol extremely unlikely.

The day’s work would also appear to put the Lakers out of the running for New York Knicks free agent Carmelo Anthony.

The Lakers can still re-sign free agents Ryan Kelly (restricted) and Kent Bazemore. They’ll also have an additional $2.7 million in spending power via an NBA exception.

Otherwise, the Lakers have used nearly all their cap room to retain Hill and Young and acquire Lin. The Lakers also landed a first-round pick from the Rockets in the 2016 NBA draft.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.