Medvedenko Isn’t Playing the Angles

These could be trying weeks for Slava Medvedenko, embarking on his third season with the Lakers and still not totally familiar with Phil Jackson’s offensive system, but the 23-year-old Ukrainian shrugs and does not admit it.

Kobe Bryant recently scowled and wondered how Medvedenko could be so lost in the triangle offense, and it is not unusual for players to come off the floor wondering why Medvedenko went right, say, instead of left. Still, Medvedenko shook his head after a recent practice.

“It’s all right,” he said slowly, and his eyes held firm.

Jackson doubts it.

“It would bother anybody, any player,” he said. “I think it would bother Slava.”

Previously excused because of his youth, lack of college experience and the language cross-over, Medvedenko signed a two-year contract in the summer and is finding that it came with a demand to contribute more to an organization that requires power-forward depth.

Mark Madsen’s hamstring injury has given Medvedenko exhibition playing time he would not ordinarily get, and yet Medvedenko, who spent the summer caring for his ill father in Ukraine, has again been slow to “reassociate” with the Lakers’ strategies, Jackson said.

“Slava has his chance and he’s not ready to play, which is disappointing,” he said.

One of Jackson’s assistant coaches had a long conversation with Medvedenko this week, and everyone came away more optimistic. Jackson believed Medvedenko understood what was expected on the practice floor and in games, and Medvedenko thanked the unidentified coach, which Jackson wanted to take as a sign of maturity. Still, there are potential long-term issues.

“The thing that motivates Slava is yet to be known,” Jackson said. “He seems to be relatively immune to criticism and scolding.”

If General Manager Mitch Kupchak were mulling a trade that would open a roster place for reserve center Soumaila Samake, perhaps a showcase of Medvedenko or Madsen, when sound, would be the place to start.

It appears that Shaquille O’Neal’s recovery will continue at least a couple of weeks into the regular season, through games involving the daunting front lines of San Antonio, Portland twice, Atlanta and Houston. Kupchak would seem to have little choice but to retain the 7-foot Samake, at least for the early part of the schedule, with O’Neal on the injured list.

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The Lakers play an exhibition against the Phoenix Suns tonight in Las Vegas.... Rick Fox (back) and Robert Horry (knee) practiced Friday. Brian Shaw (groin) did not and will not play against the Suns.