As Clippers Tie Record Losing Streak, Lakers Break Up Winning Hand in Five-Player Trade With Charlotte

Having too long lingered at the outer edges of an NBA title run, the Lakers took their shot at a championship on Wednesday, lined it up from deep distance and pulled the trigger.

It will now be up to Glen Rice and the rest of this tossed-about team to see if the long fling swishes through--or bounds away wildly.

In one of the most anticipated and debated transactions of recent franchise history, the Lakers sent two-time all-star guard Eddie Jones, one of their most popular players, and Elden Campbell to the Charlotte Hornets.

In return, the Lakers received Rice, their desperately demanded outside shooter, soon-to-be-free-agent power forward J.R. Reid and guard B.J. Armstrong, then promptly released Armstrong, included only as salary-cap ballast.

“I got a shooter and I got another thug power forward,” said Laker center Shaquille O’Neal, who had campaigned for a pure three-point shooter to offset inside double teams. “Ain’t no excuses now, for me or anybody else in this locker room.

“We should be on our way.”

That clearly was the theme presented by Executive Vice President Jerry West when he met the media--after the turbulence of firing Del Harris, elevating Kurt Rambis, signing Dennis Rodman and now sacrificing Jones’ all-around game for Rice’s dead-eye shooting, the Lakers feel the pieces are there to win a title.

Not as the team of the future, tearing off on a winning streak but perhaps still struggling to find a way to get past Utah in the playoffs.

But as the team of the present, envisioning Rice scorching the Jazz defense with pressure three-point baskets alongside Kobe Bryant and O’Neal.

“We needed to address an area where it’s hard to address, a shooter,” West said. “And we feel we got someone who you will never be able to leave where he is on the court. . . .

“If you look at our front line in particular, we think we have the best center in the league, we probably have the best rebounder in the league in Dennis Rodman, and maybe we’ll have the best shooter as a small forward and one of the best players in the league at small forward.

“Our backcourt is a concern, but it was a concern before. We do think we have an attractive team, and a team that can compete in a playoff series against anyone. . . .

“I think our bottom line was that we just didn’t feel that we had anyone here that could make shots on a consistent basis, particularly when the game was on the line.”

West said that dealing Jones and Campbell--who had been Lakers since they were drafted in 1994 and 1990, respectively--was the hardest thing he ever had to do as a Laker executive.

Jones, in a statement released by his agent, Leon Rose, expressed his gratitude to his fans and teammates.

“It has been a pleasure playing in Los Angeles and I wish the Lakers’ organization all of the best in the future,” Jones said. “I am thankful and relieved that there is now closure. Unfortunately, it has been a distraction to all of us and I look forward to focusing on my future.”

The 31-year-old Rice, a three-time all-star and career 40.9% three-point shooter who underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery Jan. 22 and has not played this season, was examined by Laker doctors and scouts recently and could be in uniform as soon as Friday’s game against Golden State, West said.

The Lakers also released forward Corie Blount and activated rookie forward Ruben Patterson from the injured list, and plan on a lineup that switches Bryant from small forward to big guard and inserts the 6-foot-8 Rice as the starting small forward.

The woeful Hornets decided weeks ago that Rice would never play for them again (he concurred, and stayed in Miami to recuperate and be with his wife for the birth of their daughter the whole time) and offered the Lakers this trade package last month, West confirmed.

Rice, who originally annoyed Laker management by balking at a move to L.A. but recently realized the possibilities, is earning a pro-rated $5.42 million this season.

The Lakers have an option for next season which would pay him $7 million if exercised, but the two sides are expected to negotiate an extension at the end of this season.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m going to take full advantage,” Rice told the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday. “The wait is over, I’m ready to get playing. I’m going into a situation now where the chance to win a championship is right there.”

David Falk, Rice’s agent, said that he and Rice respect the Lakers’ risk-taking sensibilities.

“I think it proves that they’re satisfied with nothing short of winning championships,” said Falk, who a source said was extremely interested in placing a key player on the Lakers.

“I think this is a league that sometimes people are reluctant to make moves and make changes. . . . Glen Rice is a perfect fit for them.”

Falk, who said that Rice wants to “end his career in L.A.,” also debunked any thoughts that, with O’Neal and Bryant eager to take big shots and plenty of shots, Rice could be frustrated in the offense.

“He has the maturity to make whatever adjustments to fit in and blend in with the team, and I don’t think there’s a need for too much blending,” Falk said. “He just has to do what he’s best at--one of great late-game shooters in the league.”

Rice and Reid, projected as a backup power forward, are expected to join the team today.

For the Laker players who remained, the emotion was one of numbness in a season that started with Harris as their coach, without Rodman, and with Jones, Blount and Campbell as their longest-tenured players.

No current Laker was on the team before the 1996-97 season.

“Well, the ‘Lake Show’ is buried, I guess,” said Rick Fox, referring to the unit led by Nick Van Exel and Jones in the mid-’90s. “It’s a totally different era. . . .

“As the Lakers turn, I guess--it’s been a soap opera. Let’s hope for a happy ending.”

The Trade To Lakers

GLEN RICE

Has averaged over 20 points a game in last five seasons.

J.R. REID

Fifth overall draft pick in 1989 is having best season.

The Trade To Charoltte

EDDIE JONES

Two-time all-star was inconsistent in playoffs.

ELDEN CAMPBELL

Numbers were better as a center than as a forward.

Monumental Moves

Other big Laker trades:

* July 9, 1968--Archie Clark, Darrall Imhoff and Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia Warriors for Wilt Chamberlain.

* May 20, 1970--Mel Counts to Phoenix for Gail Goodrich.

* June 16, 1975--Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman to Milwaukee for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley.

* Oct. 10, 1983--Eddie Jordan, Norm Nixon and two draft picks to San Diego Clippers for Swen Nater and Byron Scott.

* June 24, 1998--Nick Van Exel to Denver for Tony Battie and Tyronn Lue.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

A Serving of Rice

Comparing what Glen Rice and Eddie Jones contributed to each team’s offense last season: EDDIE JONES

Minutes per game: 36.4

Points per game: 16.9

Laker points per game105.5

% of playing time: 75.8%

% of Laker offense: 16.0%

GLEN RICE

Minutes per game: 40.2

Points per game: 22.3

Hornet points per game: 96.9

% of playing time: 83.8%

% of Hornet offense: 23.0%

Comparing Elden Campbell to J.R. Reid in rebounding:

ELDEN CAMPBELL

Minutes per game: 22.0

Rebounds per game: 5.6

Laker rebounds per game: 43.3

% of playing time: 45.8%

% of Laker rebounds: 12.9%

J.R. REID

Minutes per game: 14.0

Rebounds per game: 2.7

Hornet rebounds per game: 40.6

% of playing time: 29.2%

% of Hornet rebounds: 6.7%

Comparing career averages of Jones and Rice :

*--*

Jones Category Rice .466 FG Pct. .463 .771 FT Pct. .843 3.8 Rebounds 4.8 3.0 Assists 2.3 15.4 Points 20.8

*--*

Comparing career averages of Campbell and Reid:

*--*

Campbell Category Reid .468 FG Pct. .473 .681 FT Pct. .710 5.8 Rebounds 5.2 1.1 Assists 1.0 10.5 Points 8.7

*--*