Sunderland Receives 1-Year Laker Offer

The Lakers have decided who they want to be Chick Hearn’s successor, at least for one season.

Paul Sunderland has been offered a one-year contract to become their new play-by-play announcer, The Times learned Friday.

That Sunderland was offered the job is no surprise.

What is surprising, however, is the length of the contract, which could be a sticking point.

Sunderland’s work was generally well received when he filled in last season for Hearn, the legendary announcer who missed 56 games, first because of heart and then knee surgery.

Hearn, the only play-by-play announcer the Lakers had had after moving to Los Angeles from Minneapolis in 1960, died Aug. 5 of injuries suffered in a fall at his home in Encino.

Sunderland all along was considered the front-runner to replace Hearn.

Sunderland had gone fishing Friday--it was a long-planned trip--and was not available for comment.

According to sources, the offer was presented Friday to Sunderland’s agent, Martin Mandel of San Francisco. Mandel declined comment, as did Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ executive vice president of business operations.

Laker commentator Stu Lantz said he would prefer to hold comment until the deal was completed.

Sunderland, Mandel and Jeanie Buss are expected to meet Monday. Jeanie Buss is handling negotiations for the Lakers, although her father, owner Jerry Buss, has the final say.

Hearn and Lantz, who is starting his 16th season with the Lakers, usually were given contracts of two or three years’ duration. They both preferred short-term contracts.

Sources said Sunderland would prefer a longer-term contract, at least longer than one year.

Something needs to be worked out fairly soon. The Lakers will play their first exhibition game Oct. 8, against the Clippers at Bakersfield. That game will be televised by Channel 9 and broadcast on flagship radio station KLAC (570).

Laker spokesman John Black, although declining to comment on the Sunderland situation, did confirm that the Lakers would stick with simulcasts for at least one more year.

The Lakers are one of the few teams in the NBA that simulcast.