LAKERS STATUS REPORT

Staff writer Tim Kawakami takes a look at where they’ve been and where they’re going:

KURT RAMBIS, coach

Significant statistics: 24-13 in regular season; second-round loss in playoffs.

Contract status: Expires July 1.

Comment: Was put in an almost impossible situation. Did not seem to lose focus until final days, when playoff pressures plus uncertain future seemed to put both him, and team, on edge.

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KOBE BRYANT, guard

Significant statistic: 46.5% shooting, second on team.

Contract status: Signed through 2004-05.

Comment: Transition season, from Wunderkind to just plain marvelous player, but still stuck in middle with some fitful moments. Rice trade hurt him most. One thing you can count on--he’ll come back with even more game next season.

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DEREK FISHER, guard

Significant statistic: Zero double-digit assist games.

Contract status: Free agent.

Comment: Tremendous character and work ethic. Lakers would love for him to have sealed the point-guard job shut, but he never found consistent shooting form or defensive stride. Says he’d like to come back.

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RICK FOX, forward

Significant statistic: 82 starts last regular season; one start this season.

Contract status: Free agent.

Comment: Early-season foot injury put Bryant into starting lineup for good and Fox then accepted a backup role, at times providing major scoring punch. Has “early-Bird” status with Lakers, who can sign him for league average after two seasons well below it.

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DEREK HARPER, guard

Significant statistic: 44.8% shooting first 19 games, 38.5% after that--including playoffs.

Contract status: Signed through 1999-2000.

Comment: Crucial contributor early, but 37-year-old legs were spent after too-heavy minutes. Apparently butted heads with Rambis. Talking about retirement, though Lakers can’t afford to lose another leader.

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ROBERT HORRY, forward

Significant statistic: Lakers 7-0 when he scored 10 or more.

Contract status: Signed through 2002-03.

Comment: Last season’s starter at power forward became this season’s key backup. He had a few electric scoring nights, but for the most part contributed with defense and passing. Could be a starter again.

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SAM JACOBSON, guard

Significant statistic: Played in only two games.

Contract status: Signed through 2000-01.

Comment: Displayed shooting touch and athleticism in training camp. Lakers like him, but, unless there’s a position switch, what minutes will there ever be behind Bryant at shooting guard?

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TRAVIS KNIGHT, forward-center

Significant statistic: Committed only 48 fewer fouls, 108 fouls, scored only than he scored points, 156 points.

Contract status: Signed through 2003-04.

Comment: Started 23 of first 27 games, then never got back into the rotation. Can shoot and run the floor but picks up fouls so rapidly he can put an opponent into penalty situation almost on his own.

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TYRONN LUE, guard

Significant statistic: 12 points, six assists in Game 4 cameo.

Contract status: Signed through 2000-01.

Comment: Jerry West loves him. Laker fans love him. Teammates love his explosiveness. Why didn’t he play more? Wait till next year.

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SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, center

Significant statistic: 27 double-doubles in 49 regular-season games.

Contract status: Can exercise opt-out clause to become free agent in June.

Comment: Hard to argue with the statistics, or the Houston series. But Spurs showed that big bodies can frustrate him, and that the Lakers aren’t yet able to adapt to it. Can he depart a second team on a losing note?

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RUBEN PATTERSON, forward

Significant statistic: Had total of 2 two assists in 24 games.

Contract status: Free agent.

Comment: Hustling defensive specialist, showed fire defending guarding Bryant for most of training camp. Due to Probably will end up on somebody else’s roster next season because of salary limitations.

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J.R. REID, forward-center

Significant statistic: 15.1 scoring average in Charlotte; 5.0 with Lakers.

Contract status: Free agent.

Comment: Mismatched against Tim Duncan in playoffs, but who isn’t? Gave Lakers some quality rough-and-tumble minutes on the post. His medium-range offensive game never clicked with Lakers. Many other teams interested in him.

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GLEN RICE, guard

Significant statistic: 43.2% regular-season shooting mark, worst of career.

Contract status: Lakers hold option for 1999-2000.

Comment: Showed why he is one of most appreciated offensive players in league. Did not, however, show that he can fit in with O’Neal and Bryant. Says he’d like to stay if it can be worked out.

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SEAN ROOKS, center

Significant statistic: Did not make a basketfield goal from April 2-May 2.

Contract status: Signed through 2002-03.

Comment: To be Shaq’s backup is no terrific role--at most, nine minutes a game, and three or four shots--and Rooks did not flourish in it.