Free-agent center Tarik Black has agreed to a two-year, $12.85 million deal to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told The Vertical.

Tarik Black (Getty Images) More

Black’s deal will include a trade kicker and a guarantee date in the second season, sources said. For Black, the salary represents the maximum he was able to earn under the Early Bird provision.

Black has carved an NBA niche by bringing toughness and energy. After not being selected in the 2014 NBA draft, Black joined the Houston Rockets for training camp, where his performance in the preseason forced the organization to release two guaranteed contracts to keep him. The Lakers acquired Black off free agency waivers in December 2014.

Black has averaged five points and 5.2 rebounds for his career. He joins forward Luol Deng, center Timofey Mozgov and guard Jordan Clarkson as the Lakers' signings thus far in free agency.

Black has history with Lakers coach Luke Walton, having played for him at the University of Memphis in 2011, and the two spoke at length over the phone to solidify Black’s return.

Black averaged 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game to finish the 2014-15 season with the Lakers. His playing time fluctuated last season and he shuttled between the Lakers and the NBA Development League's Los Angeles D-Fenders.