Horry Now Expects to Return

Robert Horry, the versatile forward whose defensive effort in previous playoff rounds enabled the Lakers to contain the Western Conference’s best power forwards, will stay with the Lakers after this season, he said after Tuesday’s practice.

He decided not to opt out of his contract after several conversations with his wife, Keva, who spends most of the year at home in Houston with the couple’s two children. Their oldest, 7-year-old Ashlyn, is mentally challenged. Horry had considered trying free agency and possibly signing with the Houston Rockets, or another team nearer Houston.

“We sat down, we talked about it,” Horry said. “We’ve had so much time off, we’ve had plenty of time to talk about it. She said, ‘I would love for you to come back to Houston, but they’re not going to be as good as you all are. So, stay in L.A., do what you have to do.’ ”

Horry, who will be 31 in August, said he has not notified Laker management. He has until July 1.

“You know me, I could change my mind at the last minute,” he said, laughing. “Right now, we talked about it, she told me to stay in L.A. because you can win. And that playoff check comes in handy.”

Horry is guaranteed $5.3 million next season and $5.3 million the season after. The club has the option on the 2003-04 season.

Horace Grant, Ron Harper, Mike Penberthy and J.R. Rider will be free agents after the season. Brian Shaw’s contract--for $2.2 million--won’t be guaranteed until Dec. 1. The team holds an option on Slava Medvedenko, which it will exercise.

Grant, who like Horry has had three sturdy defensive series in the playoffs, will be 36 on July 4. If he stays, it will be for much less than the $5.95 million he earned this season. Horry’s decision to return probably will affect the team’s decision on Grant, as will the Laker hopes to develop young forwards Mark Madsen and Medvedenko. Also, Laker owner Jerry Buss has made it clear he would prefer not to pay a luxury tax, which will limit off-season spending.

“At this stage of my career, I expect to take a pay cut,” Grant said. “That’s just the nature of the game. I guess it’s going to depend on how much.”

Asked if he might stay for the mid-level salary exception, or for about $4.5 million, Grant grinned.

“Hey, looky here, man, I could work with that,” he said. “Believe me.”

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Backup center Greg Foster, who said Tuesday that he has been cleared to play tonight, also can opt out of his contract by the end of the month. He is leaning strongly toward returning for $1.76 million.

Foster hasn’t played since April 26, Game 2 of the Portland series, shortly before he suffered a sprained right foot in practice.

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This’ll wow ‘em in Philadelphia.

Kobe Bryant said playing the 76ers, a team for which his father, Joe, played, and so near Lower Merion High, meant little to him.

“I grew up in Philadelphia,” he said. “[But] I just loved Magic [Johnson] so much. I was always a Laker fan.”