Winter May Finally Retire

Tex Winter, Phil Jackson’s assistant through eight NBA championships, probably will retire at the end of the coming season, he said Monday.

“I think this will be my last year,” Winter said. “It might do well to make that statement. Phil’s wanted me to coach until I’m 80, that’s the way he’s put it, and I’ll be 80 in February.”

Winter decided only recently to return to the Lakers for another season, his 55th consecutive as a Division I or professional coach, in a diminished role.

Rather than coach beside Jackson during games, Winter will sit behind the bench in the place vacated by longtime coach Bill Bertka, reassigned this summer as a scout. Winter will skip some road trips and home games, and be most involved during practices, where he will continue to teach his pet triangle offense.

“I want to be needed and I feel like I am and that’s the reason I’m coming back,” he said, “especially with this zone thing coming in.”

The NBA will allow zone defenses, a decision panned--loudly and frequently--by Laker center Shaquille O’Neal. The Lakers voted for the change, however, in part because their motion offense is suited to beat zones.

Winter said O’Neal would have fewer problems than he expects, pointing out the triangle offense was developed at the college level, where zones are permitted.

O’Neal’s agent, Leonard Armato, said Monday O’Neal was not on crutches and recuperating well from toe surgery undergone two weeks ago. The Lakers expect O’Neal to be healthy for the start of the regular season, which opens Oct. 30 at Staples Center against Portland.

Bothered by a claw toe deformity for much of last season, O’Neal had hoped the postseason rest would allow the area to heal, Armato said. The pain returned almost immediately, according to Armato, and O’Neal elected to have the surgery.

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Among those working out at the Laker facility in El Segundo: Lindsey Hunter, Rick Fox, Mark Madsen, Peter Cornell, Derek Fisher and Mike Penberthy. Penberthy is unsigned, but his presence suggests the sides expect to have a deal shortly ....Summer is over for the Laker staff. Winter, Jim Cleamons and Kurt Rambis already are at work, and Jackson is expected to arrive from Montana today. The players have a media day on Sept. 28, and fly that day to Honolulu for the start of training camp.