West Decision Due Today; Lakers Consider Ceballos

The announcement of Jerry West’s long-awaited semi-departure is still scheduled for today, though a Laker spokesman refused this weekend to indicate if a news conference is being planned and would not confirm if there would be news about West released.

But only the timing of the announcement, whenever it comes, is in question.

West, 62, will resign as executive vice president and take a consulting role, with General Manager Mitch Kupchak assuming No. 1 duties over basketball operations and former coach and player Kurt Rambis becoming an assistant general manager.

Meanwhile, free-agent guard Kendall Gill has told several New York-area papers that he plans to sign with the Lakers for the $2.25-million exception if a more lucrative sign-and-trade deal cannot be fashioned quickly.

League sources indicate that former Laker small forward Cedric Ceballos, currently with the Dallas Mavericks, could rejoin the Lakers as soon as this week in a trade, possibly for Travis Knight, and that the Lakers have interest in veteran Indiana Pacer Chris Mullin.

Both are seen as potential bench scorers for the Lakers, who lacked consistent outside shooting last season.

Ceballos, who turned 31 this week, averaged 16.6 points for Dallas last season.