Success Muffles Trade Talk
After all the recent Laker activity, has the team’s five-game winning streak helped lessen management’s interest in making a big trade by the March 11 deadline?
“I hope so--I hope that’s the message that we’re sending,” point guard and co-captain Derek Harper said after practice Thursday. “Because I like our team.
“But at the same time, [management] understands, they know what putting together a basketball team is and what it’s all about. They know the buttons to push. That’s not our department.
“But I like what we’re doing as a basketball team right now on both ends of the floor. Even though we haven’t played perfect basketball, we’re still finding a way to win. And I think we’re still coming together as a basketball team and we’re going to be OK as a team.”
With Dennis Rodman providing instant blue-collar success, there are indications that the Laker front office is growing less and less interested in breaking up the current unit.
But the next two rivalry games--playing host to Seattle tonight and at Utah on Sunday--might have the heaviest bearing on the long-rumored potential trade of Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell to Charlotte for a package that includes Glen Rice.
Jones, who was greeted warmly by owner Jerry Buss in the locker room after Wednesday’s victory, had little to say about the situation, other than grinning and telling local reporters that “it’s been nice knowing you.”
Said Coach Kurt Rambis: “Changes in the NBA are just part of the business. . . . I’m not saying we’re making a trade, I’m not saying we’re talking about a trade, I just believe that the players should be playing as hard as they can wherever they are.”
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Point guard Derek Fisher was held out of practice because of tendinitis in his right Achilles’. . . . Forward Robert Horry, who sat out seven games because of a heartbeat irregularity last month, had follow-up tests Thursday afternoon. He was again given a clean bill of health.
Tonight
vs. Seattle, 7:30
Fox Sports West
* Site--Great Western Forum.
* Radio--KLAC (570).
* Records--Lakers 11-6. SuperSonics 9-5.
* Record vs. SuperSonics--0-1.
* Update--The Lakers, particularly Shaquille O’Neal, have been thinking about this rematch since Olden Polynice grabbed 15 rebounds, scored 17 points and celebrated with his gestures and his postgame comments Feb. 21 in Seattle, leading the SuperSonics to a 92-89 victory. “I’m a bridge, Olden is water--no matter how high the tide rises, he’ll always be under me,” O’Neal said Thursday.
* Tickets--Sold out.