Roles have flip-flopped for centers

The latest on the Lakers’ three centers?

One moved up a notch, one slipped a bit and one shot free throws in flip-flops at practice Thursday.

Chris Mihm is coming off his first starting assignment in 20 months, Andrew Bynum is trying to shake off a subpar shooting night Tuesday against New Orleans, and Kwame Brown is not expected to play tonight against Minnesota because of bursitis in his right heel.

Mihm had eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in 17 minutes against New Orleans, which is probably good enough to earn another start. He had not started since severely spraining his right ankle in March 2006. He missed last season after undergoing two ankle surgeries.

“I was real pleased with Chris,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “He’s kind of broken through, I think. This start helped him -- second half, he came out and gave us a real nice lift and we got off to a jump. He played well.”

Bynum, on the other hand, struggled with his jump hook and was short on other shots against New Orleans, making four of 10 on the night.

“Last game, he couldn’t get to the hoop as much as he did before,” Jackson said. “We’ve been getting such [good] interior shots for him so he could finish at the basket, and last game he had to do some shooting from a distance.”

Brown, who started the first three games, will probably miss a second consecutive game. He did not take part in practice Thursday other than to shoot free throws at the end of it.

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Kobe Bryant frowns on the sideline, so he must be angry. He smiles on the court, so he must be happy.

The dime-store psychologists have tried to gauge Bryant’s mood using the smallest of indicators. Bryant said Thursday that enough was enough.

“They need a life,” he said without rancor. “It’s silly. People look way too deep into things. They need to just do the same thing I’m doing, which is just focus on the team and what we’re trying to accomplish here. Stop worrying about whether I crack a smile or not. I don’t smile when I play that much anyway. I have a job to do.”

Bryant has not backed down from his desire to be traded, although trade talks have not produced anything of consequence.

Lamar Odom is welcoming the switch to a new, yet old, position.

A power forward the last four seasons for the Miami Heat and the Lakers, he has been switched to small forward. Ronny Turiaf is expected to start at power forward.

“Small forward is kind of like my natural position,” Odom said.

He spent most of his four years with the Clippers at small forward and began playing power forward in 2003-04, his only season with Miami. He continued to play the position with the Lakers, although it took its toll. He has had two shoulder surgeries over the last two seasons and missed 26 games last season.

There is also an overload of bulk in the Lakers’ lineup. Turiaf and Brian Cook are power forwards, and Mihm has played there this season, although briefly.

“We’re kind of filled at that spot,” Odom said.

Luke Walton, who started the first four games at small forward, is expected to move to the second unit.

Forward Maurice Evans is not expected to play tonight because of lower back pain. . . . New Orleans’ Peja Stojakovic had only five points Wednesday against Portland after blistering the Lakers for 36 Tuesday, when he made 10 three-pointers, a record for a Lakers opponent.

TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 2-2; Timberwolves 0-3.

Record vs. Timberwolves (2006-07) -- 3-1.

Update -- The Timberwolves are facing the growing pains of a team that traded Kevin Garnett over the summer and traded veteran forward Ricky Davis last month. Al Jefferson, the centerpiece of the Garnett trade, is averaging 19 points and 11.7 rebounds a game; shooting guard Rashad McCants, Minnesota’s second-leading scorer, might not play because of a sprained left ankle.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com