Kupchak Signs Contract Extension, Remains in Hierarchy Behind West

General Manager Mitch Kupchak signed a contract extension Friday that entrenches him as successor to Jerry West, a smooth transition that was endangered in February when Kupchak flirted with the idea of jumping to the Denver Nuggets.

Kupchak, a former Laker player who joined the front office after his retirement in 1986, would not discuss specifics of his new deal, but it is believed to be for five or six years. When asked if it includes a specific provision for him to replace West, who has said he will retire by fall of 1999, Kupchak said:

“I would just say that obviously I feel that my future is in Los Angeles.”

And that the new package comes after he declined overtures from the Nuggets?

“I can’t deny that they are somehow related,” Kupchak said.

*

Without the sideshow atmosphere of the previous visit, which was the first by Shaquille O’Neal after he had smacked Greg Ostertag, and maybe without the usual ultra-hyped Delta Center atmosphere because it comes the same night the University of Utah plays in the Final Four, the Lakers and Jazz meet in a game that could have major playoff implications.

“Real big,” Nick Van Exel said of the importance of the meeting. “Huge, I think. Other people might think differently.”

Not likely. The Lakers, who also play Utah in the regular-season finale, trail the Jazz by two games in the Western Conference race Dand tonight have the opportunity to not only reduce that deficit but clinch the season series and with it the tiebreaker.

That won’t mean anything unless the Lakers finish at least tied in the conference standings with Utah. And it won’t mean anything if they don’t meet in the playoffs. But if they do, the Lakers would have home-court advantage even if they are officially the No. 3 team in the West and Utah is No. 2 by virtue of the Midwest Division title, with Seattle at No. 1.

Another scenario is that the Lakers erase the deficit to Seattle and Utah and earn the No. 1 spot in the West. That seemed unlikely about a week ago, before the Golden State Warriors beat the SuperSonics on Thursday.

“I really try not to invest too much emotion in those games [involving teams the Lakers are battling in the standings],” Coach Del Harris said of watching the upset unfold on TV. “Nevertheless, I must admit I was stimulated.”

Because of what it meant for that moment. Because of what it means for tonight.

“It just adds a little more weight to the Utah game,” Harris said.

As if there wasn’t enough already.

*

Continued problems with a sore left knee prompted O’Neal on Wednesday to wear a sleeve on the joint for the first time. It didn’t help much, but he still played 36 minutes, more than any Laker, and had 25 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in the victory over the Sacramento Kings.

TONIGHT

at

Utah

* 6 PST

* Channel 9

Site--Delta Center, Salt Lake City.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 50-19, Jazz 52-17.ED

Record vs. Jazz--2-0.

Update--The Lakers have not won a season series against the Jazz since 1987-88, their longest dry spell against any team. A victory tonight would not only clinch that but make the Lakers the first team since the Spurs of 1995-96 to win both regular-season games at the Delta Center. This is just the start of a critical time for the Jazz--its next game is Tuesday at Seattle.