For Lakers, the Chase Is Different

Putting immediate pressure on the Lakers in what figures to be one of the most interesting free agent chases in the NBA, three teams contacted Travis Knight’s representative within the first hour after bidding began Monday.

Arn Tellem would not disclose the teams that called along with the Lakers, whose interest was well-known but nonetheless affirmed. Without setting a dollar figure it will take to lure Knight from Los Angeles, he did indicate that the Lakers are in good position to retain the promising power forward despite a salary-cap technicality that allows them to offer just $326,750 for 1997-98.

The Lakers are in a position to be easily outbid by other teams--but not necessarily in a bad position because Knight wants to stay, even if it means sacrificing millions this season.

“Clearly, I would say that the Lakers, despite the limitations, have a very good shot to keep him,” Tellem said. “It’s going to take a hell of a deal to lose him.

“We haven’t set a minimum of what that will take. We’re going to see how far this will go. But I can assure you this: It’s not going to get done with the $1-million exception. It’s going to take a long-term deal with a lot of dollars.”

Said Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak: “We’re optimistic that we’ll have a realistic chance to sign him back. But we do, from time to time, look at our depth chart and think, what if?”

The Lakers, far over the salary cap, are armed only with the same exception, prohibited for use on their own players, meaning the most lucrative offer they can make is $2.15 million over two years, about the lunch tab from the 1996 pursuits of Shaquille O’Neal, Elden Campbell and Sean Rooks. But that should still be enough to make a significant addition to their depth, keeping in mind how the year-old Collective Bargaining Agreement is forcing so many to accept the minimum.

“Our main focus is to retain our own free agents,” Kupchak said. “That’s the No. 1 priority.”

The Lakers have four who were in the 1996-97 rotation. A fifth who was for the briefest of times, George McCloud, has already said he will not return, not that his now-former team will beg him to change his mind.

Robert Horry, the starting small forward, would be the biggest loss, but, barring a megabid from elsewhere, isn’t going anywhere. The Lakers have never exactly stinted on re-signing players, so it’s probably only a matter of agreeing on terms, and Horry says he isn’t looking to break the bank.

Jerome Kersey and Byron Scott are in the same contractual predicament--$326,750--as Knight because the Lakers are over the salary cap. So they will listen to other offers.

The Clippers also have five free agents. That number quickly becomes four since Dwayne Schintzius is a certain goner. The others are Malik Sealy, Kevin Duckworth, Rich Manning and Bo Outlaw.