Sasha Vujacic Could Soon Head to Europe, Along with Lakers' Championship Hopes

Sasha Vujacic, along with Delonte West and Andris Biedrins, may be heading to europe next season.

For the Lakers, the departure of Sasha "the Machine" Vujacic, would be a big blow to their title hopes next season.

Vujacic had his best season in the NBA last year, averaging 8.8 points in 17.8 minutes in the regular season, shooting 45.4 percent from the field, including 43.7 percent from three-point range.

In the postseason, Vujacic averaged 21.7 minutes, 8.1 points and shot 39.9 percent from the floor, including 39.2 percent on three-pointers.

After loosing forward Ronny Turiaf to the Warriors, the Lakers can't afford to lose Vujacic, who was one of the main reasons the Lakers' bench was so good this season.

Vujacic and Jordan Farmar are a more-than-capable backup option for Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant. They showed that numerous times during the season, when they didn't only keep the score line the same when the bench was on, but often decreased a deficit or increased a lead.

Vujacic isn't only a shooter. He is underrated on defence and can really bug opposing players. Manu Ginobili was frustrated with the way Vujacic was pestering him whenever he was on the court—and subsequently, Ginobili had a below-average series.

Vujacic earned every dollar of his $1.76 million last year, and was rewarded  when the Lakers offered him a one-year $2.6 million qualifying offer.

Because most people think the Lakers would match any offer sheet on Vujacic, teams haven't bothered going after him.

Many think the $2.6 million offer is fair, but Vujacic is looking for a long-term deal in which he would make more money towards the end of the contract.

He is hoping for a six-year deal in which he averages $5 million a season.

If the Lakers lose Vujacic, the Lakers will really struggle to get a bench like the one they had last season. Options two and three were to sign either James Posey or Brent Barry—which obviously can't happen, as Posey has signed with the Hornets and Barry is now with the Rockets.

So if the Lakers can't keep Vujacic, who would be left to fill the massive gap?

People may not realise how big of a part Vujacic is for this team right now—but if he goes to Europe, it will be made clear fairly quickly.