North Carolina’s Lynch Called Possible Laker Pick

There are probably three ways to interpret General Manager Jerry West’s surprise declaration Monday that the Lakers are strongly considering selecting North Carolina’s George Lynch in Wednesday’s NBA draft.

Although West doesn’t usually offer such emphatic public statements--and although the Lakers pick 12th and Lynch is projected to go later in the first round--West’s openness might stem from his view that Lynch simply is a good choice, if not an obvious one to draft experts.

The 6-foot-8, 218-pound forward averaged 14.7 points and 9.6 rebounds last season and 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds during the Tar Heels’ NCAA title run, earning a berth on the all-Final Four team.

Often described as an unselfish, A.C. Green-type player, he could remedy the loss of Green to free agency and at a lower price than Green would command. He might also extend a streak of what West called “good luck with North Carolina players,” a reference to James Worthy and Sam Perkins.

“We need help at the (power forward) position, which is what he does, and we need help rebounding, which is what he does,” said West, who also likes 6-11 Hartford forward Vin Baker, but expects Baker to go quickly.

“(Lynch) will be there. Some people in the league will think he shouldn’t go that early, but we think he has the talent. . . . We don’t have a very balanced roster, which makes it difficult for the coaches. This would balance the roster a little more.”

But for those of suspicious mind, there is the notion that West praised Lynch to divert attention from another player he really wants.

Jackson State point guard Lindsey Hunter has been deemed the Lakers’ probable choice, but West said Monday that Hunter “is a talented kid, but not what we need. . . . We need an up-front player. We don’t need a backcourt player.”

There is also the notion that West was merely diverting attention from his trade talks. According to one league general manager, the Lakers will send forward Elden Campbell and their pick to Milwaukee for the Bucks’ pick, the eighth.

West said he has tried to move up in the draft, “but there doesn’t seem to be any interest and people overvalue their draft picks at times.”

His attempt to deal Vlade Divac to the Bucks for their pick failed because Divac’s $3.9-million salary wouldn’t fit under Milwaukee’s salary cap. Campbell earned $575,000 last season.