Kupchak Has Limited Options

The trade that sent Othella Harrington from the Vancouver Grizzlies to the New York Knicks for guard Erick Strickland and two draft picks--one a Laker pick given up in the Glen Rice deal--underscores the challenge facing Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

With the Feb. 22 trade deadline looming, Kupchak heads an organization in flux. Many of the team’s older players have not performed well, particularly on defense, where Coach Phil Jackson admits seeing slowed reactions. Few of the younger players have had adequate playing time to develop, in part because they are not contributing while on the court.

If Kupchak would like to upgrade his bench, and it is difficult to believe otherwise, he faces some deterrents--personnel, salary cap and luxury tax constraints among them.

A player such as the 6-foot-9, 27-year-old Harrington would probably have been among the considerations for Kupchak, particularly at the seemingly low cost of guard depth and draft picks.

The Lakers, however, do not have a player such as Strickland to offer. They also have no draft choices this year. A roster of two untouchable superstars in their prime, several somewhat pricey players nearing the ends of their careers and a few unproven youngsters gives Kupchak little dealing room.

He cannot take on salary, but he holds a $3.2-million traded-player exception that affords some versatility. Most likely, he will save that exception for summer, when he will have the even greater job of rebuilding the roster.

*

In the small, crowded visitors’ locker room at Target Center, a man who looked like a miniature Jack Haley leaned over Horace Grant’s left knee on Wednesday evening.

The doctor, mini-Jack, drained fluid from Grant’s knee as teammates and various other team officials gathered around and gawked. Grant looked everywhere but at the knee.

This might be the price Grant and Jackson paid for the previous night in Cleveland, where Grant, 35, played 40 minutes. In his best game as a Laker, he scored 19 points, took 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

By Wednesday morning, however, his left knee had ballooned.

“Getting it drained, I thought I would be a go,” Grant said. “If I had known [I would not have been able to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves anyway], I would not have gotten it drained. I hate needles.”

Grant seemed improved Thursday and could play tonight against the Charlotte Hornets.

TONIGHT

vs. Charlotte

7:30, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center

* Radio--KLAC (570)

* Records--Lakers 28-16, Hornets 25-22.

* Record vs. Charlotte--(1999-2000) 2-0.

* Update--The Hornets are touting former UCLA guard Baron Davis as the league’s most improved player. He was averaging 13.4 points, 7.4 assists and 2.24 assists before Thursday night’s 87-76 loss at Utah. After their 20-9 start, the Hornets have lost 13 of 18.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849.