Plea Deal for Cooper Accepted

Laker assistant coach Michael Cooper has pleaded guilty to battery against his wife and received a deferred sentence while he continues counseling, a clerk in Corrales, N.M., Municipal Court said.

Cooper, who attended the University of New Mexico and has a home in suburban Albuquerque, was arrested July 27 and charged with assault and battery, both misdemeanors. Under an agreement, he pleaded to the battery charge and the assault charge was dismissed.

Court clerk Margaret Lumpmouth said the plea agreement with the Corrales prosecutor calls for Cooper to go six months without any violent incidents and requires continued attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Albuquerque and Los Angeles. If he complies, his record will be cleared.

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James Worthy said he never gave serious thought to retiring before coming back for his 13th season, even though his playing time will be more limited than ever at small forward as he plays behind Cedric Ceballos and George Lynch.

“I talked to Jerry West about it after the season, then I finally met with Dr. (Jerry) Buss, and that was it for me,” Worthy said. “I had been geared up to be here this month.”

Worthy will make $7.2 million this season and $5.15 million in 1995-96 as the final two years on his contract.

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The Lakers will make their first trip to The Pond of Anaheim tonight to play the Clippers at 7:30 .... Clipper center Stanley Roberts weighed in at 328 pounds Monday, Coach Bill Fitch revealed during a nationwide conference call.