Lakers, Jones in Agreement : Pro basketball: Top pick from Temple expected to sign next week. Van Exel also close to wrapping up deal.

Moving quickly to lock up what could be their backcourt of the future, the Lakers reached an agreement in principle with first-round draft pick Eddie Jones and appear close to a new deal with restricted free agent Nick Van Exel.

Jones, expected to challenge to become the starting shooting guard, should sign sometime early next week after the obligatory physical. The package is believed to be worth $13.65 million over six years and, barring any delays, could make the former Temple star the first draftee of 1994 to sign.

Van Exel and his agent, Tony Dutt, are expected at the Forum today to iron out the details on a new contract. The starting point guard signed a one-year contract for the league minimum of $150,000 last summer after being picked in the second round rather than try for a two- or three-year deal that would have offered more security. Van Exel said at the time that he was confident he could turn a good rookie showing into first-round money and the gamble apparently paid off.

The Lakers signed rookie Trevor Ruffin to a partially guaranteed contract Thursday, hoping that he can develop into Van Exel’s backup. An All-Western Athletic Conference choice last season at Hawaii, Ruffin was not drafted but has become one of the stars of the summer league at UC Irvine while averaging a team-high 24.3 points.

The flurry of activity comes only days after a judge lifted a ban on signings.

The Lakers also apparently remain in the running for the three most prominent unrestricted free agents--Horace Grant, Danny Manning and Dominique Wilkins. Grant on Wednesday concluded his five-city tour that covered Los Angeles for the Lakers and Clippers, Dallas, Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando, and hopes to sign within a week. Chances of his returning to the Chicago Bulls seem slim.