Lakers Expected to Turn to Daniels for Help

The Lakers, looking for bench strength and scoring potential in the wake of serious injuries to Cedric Ceballos and Eddie Jones, are expected to announce today the signing of Lloyd Daniels to a 10-day contract.

The arrival of Daniels, who had been playing with the Fort Wayne Fury of the Continental Basketball Assn., has been a possibility since early February, when Ceballos ruptured a hand ligament. The Lakers decided to stick with the current squad and eventually signed Kurt Rambis to a second 10-day contract, but Jones’ sprained shoulder prompted them to try to bolster the offense.

Daniels, best known for his off-court troubles, has averaged 7.4 points in 147 NBA games with San Antonio and, most recently, Philadelphia. The 76ers--tonight’s Laker opponent at the Forum who just signed Jerome Harmon from the Fury--cut Daniels early in the season.

Since then, Daniels had risen to second in the CBA in scoring at 27.4 points a game and fourth in assists at 7.4. He is the only player in the developmental league to rank in the top 10 in both categories.

The Lakers probably will also sign Rambis for the rest of the season today. They have to do that or release him, at which point he would return to his former job as a special assistant coach.

The Lakers are 32-17, including 8-1 without Ceballos. In the first game minus the two starters, the No. 1 and No. 4 scorers on the team, they beat Seattle on the road Monday, 108-105, as Nick Van Exel made seven of nine three-point shots en route to a career-high 40 points.

“That shows you the grit of this team, which obviously has improved,” Executive Vice President Jerry West said.

“It’s very frustrating. I would be lying if I said differently. You’ll never see us complain about injuries. But when things were going well in that area, you could see the building. You don’t like to see that undone, but when it is undone you have to do the best you can.”