A Bull’s-Eye View of Lakers

New and old, change and familiarity, new philosophies, rookie hopes, proven players and old Laker traditions.

In his first interview since setting up office as the new Laker coach, Phil Jackson spryly waded through those issues on Wednesday afternoon, but never veered from his vision of the Laker future:

He will closely follow the patterns of his Chicago Bull tenure, preferably with many of the same players who helped him before and during the six-championship Bull run.

You know the names--Scottie Pippen, Charles Oakley, B.J. Armstrong and Jud Buechler.

Jackson said flat out that he would pursue Oakley, a free agent, to fill the Lakers’ gaping need at power forward, and probably Buechler and Armstrong, also free agents.

Jackson also said the Lakers would explore ways to acquire Pippen, currently under contract with the Houston Rockets for four more years at $14 million a year.

“Right now, this team is a talented team, but it still has holes in it,” Jackson said of the Lakers, pointing specifically to its depth and its lack of role players.

Jackson also stressed that, to quickly and successfully implement his triangle offense, he needs to have assistant coaches and at least some players who are already familiar with the system.

“I think it would be very important for this team to have a couple of guys on it that really know how to function inside the offense,” Jackson said, “ . . . they can learn by just following or by copy-catting, whatever you want to call it, on the floor.

“In a game, you definitely need leaders that can be there. That would be a very big luxury for this team.

“Whether that’s going to happen or not, I can’t tell you. I can just tell you that we’re staying in tune to it. I’m staying on my end of the bargain and saying, you know, ‘Let’s keep trying and seeing what could be available.’ ”

Though Executive Vice President Jerry West scoffed Wednesday at reports that the Lakers had already offered Glen Rice in exchange for Pippen, a source close to Pippen indicated Wednesday that an offer was made, and at least temporarily rejected by the Rockets.

The Lakers also announced that they had exercised the $7-million option for next season on Rice.

Earlier, Jackson, who would not detail the effort, said Pippen would be perfect for the Lakers, playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

“My options are wide open on that,” Jackson said. “Of course, he was a leader on that team . . .

“I shouldn’t comment on what’s been discussed. That’s private stuff that we have to talk about that could affect other people. But to be honest with you, I’ve discussed everybody, including Michael Jordan.

“You just discuss that kind of stuff. Is there a chance that Michael comes back and plays? . . . I don’t think there’s ever a chance that Michael would come back, but I think everybody wants to know, even from the top on down, is there a possibility that you envision?”

Though Jordan is highly unlikely, the 35-year-old Oakley seems as if he’s almost in L.A. already.

Oakley’s rights will apparently be renounced by the Toronto Raptors and the power forward could begin negotiations with the Lakers beginning today and be signed Aug. 1.

“When that time comes for us to pursue Charles Oakley, I’m sure we’re going to have our hat in the ring,” Jackson said.

“You know, Charles Oakley will definitely fill a gap as a player that would give us some power, gives you rebounding, a Dennis Rodman-type role player, veteran, knows his role . . . fits inside the team concept, can back up a guy like Shaq, so he can run a little bit, you can let him rebound and block the lane, covers the lane.

“This team has to have people start covering the lane, defensively, if they’re going to be good.”

Before the Lakers used their first-round choice (No. 23 overall) to select Division III swingman Devean George and their second-round pick (No. 30) for Villanova guard John Celestand, Jackson said that rookies probably would not see much action playing under him early their careers.

Neither George nor Celestand, both viewed as above-average shooters, appear likely to buck Jackson’s premise.

“I’m one of those old-school guys that say rookies have to sit on the bench and learn,” Jackson said. “Especially in a situation with a team as talented as this one . . .

“If we got at 23 somebody who can play some minutes, we would be really fortunate today, very, very fortunate to find somebody that can get some minutes on the floor in an NBA season.

“The 30 pick is obviously something for the future. Somebody you may have to develop for a couple years.”

Among the current Laker veteran free agents, Jackson praised Rick Fox as a player who showed character this season by performing well after losing his starting job to Kobe Bryant.

And Jackson emphasized that he has always believed that Rice could be a deadly weapon in the triangle.

Jackson would not say which assistants he hopes to hire, but did not say anything that would erase the assumption that former Bull assistants Jim Cleamons, Jimmy Rodgers and possibly Tex Winter--whose contract with the Bulls expires today--would top his wish list.

Cleamons is the leading candidate to coach the Lakers’ summer league entry, which West said probably will include George, Celestand, last season’s rookies--Tyronn Lue, Sam Jacobson and Ruben Patterson--and veteran Travis Knight.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Laker Picks

DEVEAN GEORGE, ROUND 1, PICK 23

* THE FACTS: 6-6 1/2, 220 pounds. Augsburg (Minn.) College. Guard. 27.5 points, 11.3 rebounds last season.

* THE LOWDOWN: Becomes the second Division III player to land in the first round, after Wisconsin Stevens Point point guard Terry Porter was taken by Portland in 1985. He was 5-10 as a senior in high school, then bloomed into NBA shooting-guard size by his sophomore season.

****

JOHN CELESTAND, ROUND 2, PICK 30

* THE FACTS: 6-3, 175. Villanova. 14.3 points, 4.4 assists last season.

* THE LOWDOWN: Caught Lakers’ attention with two big scoring performances in the Big East tournament against Syracuse and West Virginia. Jerry West says Celestand reminds him of Gary Payton.