Trade’s Impact Cushioned a Bit

Friday’s trade between the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors was greeted with both concern and relief at the Great Western Forum. The Lakers are aware how good it could make their Pacific Division counterparts but how it could have been much worse.

Three weeks ago, Damon Stoudamire appeared destined for Houston, and Laker Coach Del Harris appeared disappointed at how the one-sided deal would have been a major boost to the Rockets. At least the trade that finally happened--Stoudamire, Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers to the Trail Blazers for Kenny Anderson, Gary Trent, Alvin Williams, draft picks and money--came across as more balanced.

“Everything depends on how people respond,” Harris said. “But I would say it gives Portland the potential to move up the ladder. It depends on when Walt Williams comes back healthy [from a hyperextended knee]. He’s quite a player.

“They [the Trail Blazers] did give up a couple good guys. But two of them are going to be free agents anyway, Trent and Williams. Toronto was under duress and had to make a trade. They did the best they could do.”

The deal came with the Trail Blazers 7 1/2 games behind the Lakers, and with only one meeting left, March 11 at the Forum. The teams just split a home-and-home series interrupted by the all-star break.

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Jon Barry went back to the bench against the SuperSonics as Eddie Jones returned after missing two games because of flu and a sinus infection. Barry was part of the fourth-quarter lineup that put together the 19-0 run Tuesday at Portland, then started the next night against the Warriors and had nine points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals, all season highs.

“Nothing spectacular,” he said. “Didn’t hurt us, helped us a little.”

But did he help himself?

“He didn’t,” Harris said. “I already believed in him in the first place. He does those things every day in practice. But, again, he’s playing behind two all-stars.”

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Corie Blount took his return to the bench, after averaging 9.3 rebounds in three games as the starting power forward, in stride. “I was prepared for it,” he said. . . . Nick Van Exel was the only player in last weekend’s All-Star game not drafted in the first round. The only one even close to that distinction was New Jersey’s Jayson Williams, who went 21st in 1990. Van Exel was the 37th pick in 1993.