Concerned Players Await NBA Decision on Trip

Amid growing hopes and expectations within the Laker organization the NBA would cancel the team’s preseason trip to Japan, the league on Wednesday put off its decision for another day or two.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Commissioner David Stern was said to be discussing the merits of the trip with U.S. government officials. The Lakers are scheduled to play the Golden State Warriors in exhibition games Oct. 13-14 in Tokyo. Both clubs are to fly commercially, adding to the trepidation.

A statement from NBA headquarters in New York read, “We are in communication with and awaiting further word from the White House and the State Department regarding preseason games scheduled outside the United States and Canada. We expect to have a determination on this issue by the end of the week.

“The safety, security and peace of mind of our players and team personnel remain our primary concern.”

The league decision also affects preseason trips to Italy by the Minnesota Timberwolves, to Germany by the Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors, and to Mexico City by the Clippers and Orlando Magic. A Clipper spokesman said the club would defer to the league.

If the Japan portion of their preseason were canceled, the Lakers would consider training solely in El Segundo, rather than spending two weeks in Hawaii. Camp is scheduled to open Sept. 29 in Honolulu.

Several players, including Rick Fox, Lindsey Hunter and Devean George, scrimmaged Wednesday morning at the team’s training facility in El Segundo. Afterward, Fox said that for purposes of convenience and safety, few of his teammates are eager to travel internationally.

“Some guys are [afraid],” he said. “Some guys aren’t too anxious to go, especially flying commercially. That doesn’t excite anybody right now. We’d feel more comfortable if we were on a charter. But right now no one feels safe, whether it’s home here or in Japan. We’re going to have that feeling anywhere in the world.”

If the NBA decides to have the Lakers play the games, Fox said, “The uneasiness of the situation will be met with the inevitable, that we’ll be there and we’ll have to play it. I don’t know, though. We’re targets. We’re definitely targets.

“I’ll tell you, it would be a lot safer and a lot more comfortable if we had training camp right here, to not go anywhere. If we took a vote, that’s what we’d do.”

*

Shaquille O’Neal, who had off-season surgery on his small left toe, observed Wednesday’s scrimmage. Though still in some pain, O’Neal said it shouldn’t be too far into training camp before he returned to the floor.... Phil Jackson and his coaching staff scouted free agent Jelani McCoy on Wednesday morning.... Stais Boseman, the former USC guard, played in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Boseman, who was in Houston’s camp and played briefly in Italy last season, is unsigned.