Person Waived by Lakers; Christie Sent to Sacramento

Veteran forward Chuck Person, 36, was waived by the Lakers on Friday, nine days after he was acquired from Seattle. He left Laker officials with the sense he is not ready to retire, despite reports to the contrary.

Person, whose nickname, “The Rifleman,” pertained to his shooting touch, averaged a career-low 2.8 points last season. He has averaged 14.7 points in a career that began in 1986-87, when he was rookie of the year for the Indiana Pacers.

Horace Grant, Greg Foster and Emanual Davis also came to the Lakers in the four-team, 12-player deal on Sept. 20.

In other news, Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Brian Shaw’s agent, Jerome Stanley, continued negotiations for a new contract. They spoke with the common goal of striking a deal by Tuesday, the start of Laker training camp in El Segundo.

“We’re hopeful we can consummate a deal reasonably soon,” Stanley said. “The Lakers have a history of taking care of their players, despite what [agent] David Falk says. I’m sure they will continue that history with Brian, a player who helped them win a championship.”

Guard John Celestand, the Lakers’ second-round pick in the 1999 draft who averaged 2.3 points in his rookie season, will not return.

The Lakers have 17 players under contract. Shaw would make 18. Mark Madsen, Stanislav Medvedenko, Nate Johnson, Andy Panko and Cory Hightower are participating in a Laker mini-camp and will be in training camp.

The club also is monitoring the Joe Smith case, which will be arbitrated soon. If the NBA voids Smith’s contract with Minnesota, expect the Lakers to be very active in the pursuit of Smith.