Knight Becomes Project in Progress

It’s not simply that Sean Rooks has fallen to the end of the bench, a big enough surprise. It’s whose seat he is in.

Travis Knight, supposedly the player for some day, has altered the Lakers’ timetable for him and is making a consistent contribution. That was scheduled to come after he bulked up and refined the promising post moves, not five weeks into his pro career.

The 7-footer from Connecticut--not valued free-agent signee Rooks, not improved Corie Blount--has been the first big man off the bench each of the last five games and shows no sign of relinquishing the critical role. He couldn’t get in the first 10 games.

“I wouldn’t have believed it,” Knight acknowledges. “But you always have to be ready for everything.”

He has mostly guarded power forwards because he’s not strong enough to handle most centers. So when Shaquille O’Neal needs to come out, Elden Campbell defends the centers and Knight holds his own against the other big guy.

“Everyone can take a lesson from him,” Coach Del Harris said. “He’s gone from the last man to a top reserve in a month. And he’s a rookie.”

*

Derek Strong, a Laker last season, is playing well as he comes into the Forum with the Orlando Magic tonight, despite playing small forward instead of power forward. He had 18 points and 12 rebounds Monday against Dallas and is averaging 8.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 22.9 minutes. He has started two games.