Kupchak Views Roster Options

Most of the players have gone home, some to consider their next career move, others to refresh themselves after an arduous and ultimately fruitful season.

Laker management has reached its busy season, however.

On Thursday, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and his staff prepared for Wednesday’s draft, evaluated free agents, considered which might settle for the Lakers’ mid-level exception (about $4.5 million) and readied a roster for their summer-league team.

They held exit meetings with players earlier this week, sending them away with instructions to return in shape and to consider next season’s rule changes. Shaquille O’Neal, back-to-back most valuable player of the NBA Finals, would seem to have the greatest battle.

“More important than the weight is conditioning,” Kupchak said. “I think if he came back the same weight or 10, 15 pounds lighter, that would show his teammates incredible desire.”

Already the most powerful player in the game, O’Neal should find himself amid double- and triple-teams next season well before the ball arrives. Kupchak said O’Neal would have to deal with those annoyances.

“There’s nobody more nimble than he is on his feet,” he said. “He could probably gain 15 or 20 pounds and still be as quick as ever. . . . But, for him next year, and there’s probably nobody that controls his disposition--and, granted, he dishes it out--but he’s fouled awful hard and on every single play, and you wonder how he can maintain his composure. But I would think next year there may be some frustrating times for him.”

While Kupchak claimed not to have made any final personnel decisions--clubs may not negotiate with outside free agents until July 1, making it somewhat difficult to gauge their options--Horace Grant, Ron Harper, Tyronn Lue and J.R. Rider are in limbo.

Grant probably will draw interest from several clubs, including Orlando and Milwaukee. Harper believes he can play at least another season, but, at 37, he may be a last resort for the Lakers. Lue might be better served in an offense that would allow him to use his quickness, and he’ll spend the summer in Sarasota, Fla., lifting weights and advancing his game. And Rider has offered to play for the Lakers’ summer-league team.

“I’m disappointed for Isaiah,” Kupchak said. “We spent many, many hours talking. My guess is we’ll talk again several times. He wants to return. . . . We haven’t closed the door. There’s a twinkle in Phil [Jackson’s] eye when he talks about Isaiah.”

Meantime, Robert Horry seems to be enjoying dangling his status before the Lakers. He has told everyone but the team that he intends to return next season. Greg Foster notified Kupchak that he would be back.