Lakers Seek a New Floor Leader : Pro basketball: Without Johnson, the job will probably be that of a players’ committee.

What remained of the Lakers went back to work Tuesday.

Their spirits weren’t sky high after Magic Johnson’s re-retirement, but they weren’t mineshaft low, either. By now, this team knows the drill.

“I know there’s a potential down time,” Coach Randy Pfund said. “We’ve just got to work on making sure we stay upbeat.

“We talked a little about it (Monday). I think it is, hopefully, an advantage for this team that we went through a somewhat similar situation (after Johnson’s first retirement a year ago). I don’t think there’s quite the emotional strain, because it’s not Earvin’s health that is in question.”

The question now, though, is the same as it was last season:

Who will take over Johnson’s role as leader?

As last season, it will now be a committee job.

“I think I have to provide some of that leadership,” Pfund said. “And some of our veterans have to provide some of that leadership. It always comes better if it comes from a point guard. That guy’s a natural leader and a natural quarterback. He’s a natural guy to be telling people where to be. It’s always a little more difficult for a guy like James (Worthy) or Byron (Scott), who’s not your leader out on the floor per se, to be thrust into that role.

“But these guys played a huge factor in keeping us together last year when we had every reason to fall apart, and I have every confidence they’ll do that again.”

The Lakers waived rookie free-agent guard Tim Breaux and now have 13 players.

James Edwards--sidelined since the first day of training camp with a sore Achilles’ tendon--practiced Tuesday. The Lakers hope he will be ready for Friday’s opener against the Clippers. If he is, they are expected to cut forward Alex Blackwell and keep swing man Sean Higgins.

Johnson will go back to trying to buy an NBA team, his agent said.

“He stopped when he came back but now he’s back to that,” Lon Rosen said.

Johnson also plans a barnstorming trip abroad with other retired players.