Negotiating Hearn Isn’t the Retiring Type Yet

Chick Hearn arrived at Philips Arena through a cold rain, hours before the Lakers would play the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

In the dark arena, he laid his props before him--the small, cardboard square with the E, W, N and S on each side, so he would know which basket the Lakers were defending; the meticulous rosters and notes; and the statistic sheet on which he underlines the players, to keep Kobe Bryant’s numbers from bleeding into Derek Fisher’s.

All for the 3,286th consecutive game.

The Laker play-by-play announcer since 1961, and on his streak of consecutive games since 1965, Hearn is in negotiations with the club to extend his contract through next season. The deal is expected to be completed any day.

He moves a little slower. The travel, being away from his wife, Marge, is trying. But Hearn, in his 80s, isn’t considering retirement.

“No way,” he said. “I think one of the reasons I stay is because of the acceptance I’ve been lucky enough to have, not only in L.A., but all over the NBA. It’ a great feeling.

“It’s just fun, actual fun. Sure, you have your bad days, but it is worth it. I’ve been blessed always with a superstar or two on the Lakers. Except for two years, they’ve always been a contender, if not for the championship, then certainly in the playoffs.”

*

Any momentum Isaiah “J.R.” Rider might have had with the organization and in Phil Jackson’s offense appears to have been lost in the five-game suspension. Once looked upon as a reasonable and occasional scoring option, Rider played five minutes in his first game back and hasn’t played in two games since.

“It’s just part of the process of being estranged,” Jackson said. “We want to get him back in the fold. All we want him to do is fit in, which has never been J.R.’s forte.”

Rider played 60 games last season for the Atlanta Hawks before he was waived. It would not be a heroic return. Jackson considered that Monday night and kept Rider on the bench again.

Asked if Rider was still a Laker purely for insurance purposes, Jackson said, “No. I mean, he hasn’t even had a practice. It just really takes some time, I think, to settle in . . . I just want him to have an opportunity to succeed on the floor.”

To his credit, Rider has not appeared too glum. During Sunday’s game in Orlando, he appeared to have a wonderful time at the end of the bench with Devean George. When the game ended, Rider grabbed the basketball and took a few shots.

“It’s typical J.R. behavior,” Jackson said. “He just has a bizarre behavior pattern. You’re not going to pigeon-hole him.

“It’s real interesting, dealing with J.R. He’ll have to face adversity now and come back. If he can turn himself in the right direction he can help this club and be part of a championship.”

*

Ron Harper returned to Los Angeles on Monday to have his ailing left knee examined today by team physician Steve Lombardo.

Jackson said there’s a good chance Harper will require diagnostic arthroscopic surgery, a procedure that probably would allow him to return to the active roster in time for the playoffs.

Harper experienced soreness in the knee after a light workout Saturday.

“I am concerned,” Jackson said.