Fox Has No Vested Interest in Celtics

The Lakers were divided into three teams for drills, one group wearing purple jerseys, another in gold and a third, the one with Rick Fox, in scrimmage vests of a different color.

Green.

Barely removed from six years in Boston, breaking away isn’t so easy after all. For instance, when players broke the huddle after a training-camp drill in Palm Desert with a shout of “Lakers!” Fox almost blurted out, as if by habit, “Celtics!”

He caught himself just in time. Beyond that, though, he said the first two days of Laker workouts have been devoid of wondering what the Celtics are up to, how the new-look Celtics are practicing, whether the Celtics can regain their playoff form. Because they aren’t his Celtics any more.

“I haven’t even thought about them,” Fox said. “That’s sad to say. But the people I was close to in the organization got fired and most of the players were either traded or left. Outside of Dana [Barros] and Pervis [Ellison], I don’t really have any connection.”

Except by virtue of the color of his practice gear, even if it was strictly a coincidence.

“Guess I have to figure out a way to get him into purple or gold, huh?” Coach Del Harris said.

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Aware the injury that is now regarded as minor could become a major problem, the Lakers held Shaquille O’Neal out of both workouts Saturday because of a strained abdominal muscle suffered the day before.

O’Neal said he was in “a lot of pain.” The soreness in the lower stomach could go away with rest and treatment, but if he returns before being completely healed, he may be headed for a lengthy stint on the injured list.

For now, he is day to day.

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Two words to send shivers through USC fans:

James Forrest.

Forrest was the Georgia Tech player whose last-second shot in Milwaukee’s Bradley Center knocked the stunned Trojans out of the 1992 NCAA tournament. Now he’s trying to make the Lakers, most likely battling fellow forward Mario Bennett for the only available roster spot, but not without being reminded of the damage he inflicted on another Los Angeles basketball team.

“The first day of summer league,” said Chris Bodaken, USC class of 1990 and now a scout and video coordinator with the Lakers. “Ever since he hit that shot, I had been waiting to tell him.”

So Bodaken did. Two words, one insult.

“Then I let him off the hook,” he said. “He’s a nice enough guy. I just had to get it out of the way.”

Said Forrest, who sat out all of 1995-96 while rehabilitating from a torn Achilles’ tendon and played last season in Israel: “I just laughed at him.”

Because he also understood. He may have someone more important to answer to in time, though. Jerry Buss, the Laker owner, is a Trojan.

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Nick Van Exel, looking to put the sour end to 1996-97 behind him, has appeared in great spirits in the early days of camp, even changing his mind after first saying he would not do any interviews this season in hopes that would make for a lower profile. He willingly answered a barrage of questions Friday about his relationship with Harris, as did the coach.

“Everybody’s had enough of that,” Harris said. “I don’t feel its worthy of any more articles on my end. There’s so many other things going on. There are about 300 games Nick and I have been together, and only four or five days we’d like to erase. Nobody wants to talk about the other 295.”