Oldham Trying to Work Out Trade from Bulls to Lakers

The Lakers, with two open roster spots, are trying to fill one by completing a trade with the Chicago Bulls for 7-foot forward/center Jawann Oldham.

Fred Slaughter, Oldham’s agent, said Wednesday that the deal, which reportedly calls for the Lakers to send their first-round draft choice in 1987 to the Bulls, has not gone through only because Oldham has not yet waived his no-trade clause.

“Jawann is meeting with (Chicago General Manager) Jerry Krause right now (Wednesday night) to try to get it done,” Slaughter said. “They are talking about compensation for Jawann to waive that no-trade provision in his contract. Jawann would love to come to L.A. He and I are working feverishly to get it done tonight or tomorrow.”

Laker General Manager Jerry West said Wednesday, after a Forum press conference officially announcing Mitch Kupchak’s retirement, that there is “a ways to go” before the trade is completed.

“We’ve got to find out whether (Oldham) wants to make the move,” West said. “The surprising thing to me is that (he) apparently hasn’t determined yet whether he wants to play here. Until we find out and go from there, we’re just spinning our wheels.”

Oldham, 29, has played the last four of his six National Basketball Assn. seasons in Chicago. Last season, he played 52 games and averaged 7.4 points. Since Oldham runs well for a 7-footer and often likes to play facing the basket, he could be used as both a backup center and a power forward. The Lakers need both, now that Maurice Lucas and Kupchak are gone.

Said Laker Coach Pat Riley: “If we can get him, he’ll fit in. He can run. He can block shots. I’d like to see him put with four of our greyhounds out there on the court. He could sit back and just block shots.”

The Lakers can use half of Kupchak’s $1.15-million contract--$575,000--to replace him. The club also can use half of the $625,000 Lucas would have received this season on a separate replacement.

So, the Lakers can afford Oldham, who will make $1.75 million over five years, and perhaps make still another significant roster move.