Jones-Richmond Talks Cooling

While the Sacramento Kings are giving stronger indications they might pull Mitch Richmond off the trading block within days, hoping a delay until around midseason will prompt a contender to up the ante, the Lakers appear to have made a decision of their own by backing away from the deal that would have sent Eddie Jones to Northern California in a swap of all-star shooting guards.

Talks could resurface, depending on how the Laker season progresses, but for now, at least, seem dormant. They prefer to move forward with the young nucleus in place rather than make a bold move for Richmond, the same nucleus that some are picking to win the West title anyway.

This news will come as a considerable relief to Jones, if not a reprieve. Though having said he would “have to deal” with the trade if it happened, he made no secret of wanting to avoid the Kings, lottery regulars even with the game’s second-best shooting guard in their lineup.

The Lakers were heading in this direction even before the teams met Tuesday in Sacramento, so it’s unlikely that Jones’ fantastic offensive performance, with a career-high 35 points on 14-of-17 shooting, had any real impact in the decision to table the discussions. Along the same lines, the Kings by then had already been considering whether the time was approaching to temporarily end the much-publicized talks before they develop into any more of a distraction.

That decision could come within the next few days, if nothing serious begins to materialize. The Kings would then wait until the Feb. 19 trade deadline approaches, counting on the pressure of the playoffs coming into sight to coax a better offer from teams.

TONIGHT

vs.

New York

* 7:30 p.m.

* Fox Sports

West, TNT

Site--Forum.

Radio--KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records--Lakers 2-0, Knicks 3-1.

Record vs. Knicks (1996-97)--1-1.

Update--Shaquille O’Neal went through a full practice Thursday for the first time since aggravating his strained abdominal muscle Oct. 21 and is expected to start tonight in a season debut delayed one game by injury and one by suspension. Coach Del Harris also said he plans to have Robert Horry open at power forward, which would move Elden Campbell to the bench. O’Neal will be limited to 20-25 minutes in his first action in about 2 1/2 weeks, but said he was “very confident” the injury that twice sidelined him during the preseason is fully healed.