Threatt’s Absence Leaves Angry Lakers in the Dark

The Lakers late Sunday night were still awaiting an explanation for Sedale Threatt’s sudden unexcused departure from training camp in Honolulu early Saturday.

“I’m not looking for him,” said an obviously angry executive vice president Jerry West, who returned to Los Angeles on Sunday night after the end of the team’s camp in Hawaii.

“We’d like to know what is going on because we have no clue. . . . But, obviously, we have tried to run him down and have gotten no return calls back so we assume it is something he will have to work out. He knows the consequences.

“He will be fined. Period. If he had a problem we would have helped him try to resolve the problem.”

Threatt will earn $2.4 million each of the next two seasons, considerable salary for a reserve guard. Threatt is expected to be a key member of the team, primarily as a back up to starting point guard Nick Van Exel.

Threatt, an 11-year NBA veteran, apparently flew back to the mainland before the team’s second exhibition, a 125-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

Before his absence, Threatt slid a note under West’s door at the team’s Honolulu hotel asking to speak with him, but did not call West.

West said he spoke with agent Jim Sexton, but said Sexton had not talked to Threatt.

Sexton could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

In Friday’s preseason opener, Threatt played 17 minutes and scored six points, all on free throws.

Threatt was drafted by Philadelphia in the sixth round in 1983. He also played for Chicago and Seattle before being traded to the Lakers in 1991.