Campbell Is Signed by Lakers

Good news for Elden Campbell’s family in Inglewood: They won’t have to go halfway around the world to watch him play. Try a few blocks, instead, to the Forum.

Campbell, the Morningside High graduate who played his college basketball on the East Coast, flirted with Fonola, an Italian team, but Monday signed with the Lakers, who made him their No. 1 pick in June.

No terms were announced. Campbell is reported to have received a three-year contract in the $1.75-million range.

Campbell went to Italy last week, where he got a one-year offer, reportedly for $600,000. However, the Lakers got an additional $612,000 under the salary cap after Michael Cooper’s departure to Italy and used much of it to rein Campbell back in.

“We’re very happy to have Elden Campbell as a member of the Lakers,” General Manager Jerry West said. “We think he’s got a very big future with our ballclub.

Said Richard Howell, Campbell’s agent, from Atlanta: “The Lakers, after signing (Sam) Perkins, were right under the salary cap.

“They didn’t have much breathing room. I think they could have offered Elden $170,000 under the rules. With the Michael Cooper situation, the Lakers were able to offer more.”

Campbell, 6 feet 11 and 218 pounds, was the 25th pick in the draft. Clemson’s all-time leading scorer averaged 20.6 points and made 52% of his shots in the Los Angeles summer league.