Magic as Laker Coach Not Part of the Answer

Now for the question on every second talk-show caller’s lips:

How about Magic Johnson?

Answer: Not likely.

Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday, but his agent, Lon Rosen, said he didn’t think there was any real interest in Johnson succeeding Mike Dunleavy as Laker coach--on the team’s part or on Johnson’s.

“I don’t think the Lakers are considering it,” Rosen said. “And I don’t think Earvin is considering it. But if the Lakers asked him, he would listen.”

Johnson has long insisted he would never coach.

Laker General Manager Jerry West said he expects to talk to Johnson, but he isn’t sure about what.

“Earvin Johnson’s interested in doing every thing,” West said, laughing. “He’s going to rebuild Los Angeles. He’s going to play. He’s not going to play.

“Obviously, we’ll talk to Earvin Johnson about thoughts he might have. But I can’t possibly conceive of Earvin Johnson wanting to be a coach in basketball. This is like being a policeman at the airport. . . . Something always goes wrong.”

West, keeping his own counsel, as usual, and unafraid to promote a relative unknown as he did with Dunleavy, might not hire any of the prominent names being thrown around.

West suggested that he is leaning toward another Dunleavy-type--”I would assume that would be the path we take. It leads to a lot of criticism, but I don’t know, I just feel comfortable with people I think are wide-eyed and enthusiastic”--so it’s easier to say what most of the alleged leading names have going against them.

Some of the possible candidates:

--The Laker assistant will be considered, which is more than can be said with certainty about any other candidate.

He applied but was passed over in favor of Dunleavy two years ago. But a year ago, West and Laker owner Jerry Buss raised his salary over $100,000 to keep him from Pat Riley, who was trying to take him to New York and make him the game’s top-paid assistant.

Pfund also is a contender for the Sacramento job and was interviewed by King owner Jim Thomas on Monday. Promoting Pfund would be popular with Laker players.

--Michael Cooper. Another talk-show nominee, but he has only one season as a part-time assistant.

--Chuck Daly. Looking for a general manager-coach job.

--Mike Fratello. His name reportedly has come up, but he isn’t red-hot as a Laker candidate.

--Del Harris. The unemployed former Buck coach is a long-time West favorite, but is thought to be running strongly in Sacramento.