Jackson May Miss Game on Tuesday

Coach Phil Jackson will undergo a procedure this morning to have a kidney stone removed at Centinela Hospital Medical Center and could miss Tuesday night’s game against the Clippers.

Jackson, who said he had had undiagnosed symptoms of kidney stones for as long as two years, experienced greater pain in recent weeks. Doctors discovered the stone two weeks ago.

In the 90-minute procedure, Dr. Lawrence Paletz, a urologist at Centinela, expects to employ sound waves to shatter the stone, which rests in the lower portion of Jackson’s kidney.

Depending on how well the stone dissolves and how Jackson, 57, feels -- a general anesthetic is used -- he could be on the bench against the Clippers.

“If I don’t feel up to it on Tuesday night,” Jackson said, “I won’t be here.”

According to team internist John Moe, possible complications are more related to the anesthetic than to the procedure itself.

*

The Lakers and Orlando Magic are believed to be the front-runners in a process that would land one of them veteran guard Chris Whitney, who could be waived by the Denver Nuggets as early as today.

Laker officials apparently have spoken to Whitney’s agent and are in the process of determining the extent of their interest.

“I can’t confirm that but I won’t deny it,” Jackson said. “There has been some discussion around that topic.”

Whitney, who averaged 9.6 points and made 33% of his three-point attempts in 29 games for the Nuggets, probably will not play against Golden State tonight. He has missed 24 games because of an ankle injury, but is believed to be healthy. The Nuggets are more interested in determining if Shammond Williams, obtained in a trading-deadline deal last week, or Junior Harrington can be their point guard next season.

Called a “divorce” in NBA circles, the Nuggets have agreed to waive Whitney if he is satisfied he would find a desirable place to finish the season. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

“No one’s been waived, no one’s cleared waivers and therefore there’s no decision to make,” Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

The Magic has admitted its intent.

“He’s a guy we’d have interest in,” General Manager John Gabriel told the Orlando Sentinel. “We like him.”