Lakers Await Payton’s Move

Another day, another scenario, and the Lakers held steady on Saturday to the hope Gary Payton could be content with less money in Los Angeles, and that Karl Malone would not grow impatient in Salt Lake City while Payton chose his career path.

Even as the Milwaukee Bucks apparently pondered the possibilities of sign-and-trade deals involving Payton with the Portland Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers, and as the game’s headline free agents -- Jason Kidd and Jermaine O’Neal -- prepared to roll through Texas, the Lakers awaited the call from Payton that might flick the first off-season domino.

Aaron Goodwin, Payton’s agent, spoke to General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Saturday. Goodwin said that he would like to give the Lakers their answer within 48 hours, and that he’d wished the Bucks would work toward a sign-and-trade with the Lakers.

Of all the possible destinations for his client, Goodwin said, “If I was a betting guy, I’d say the most attractive place for Gary is in L.A.”

Payton, who made $12.6 million last season, could make at least twice the mid-level exception (expected to be $4.6 million to $4.9 million) through a sign-and-trade and, with that, the Bucks would have something to show for losing him.

Meantime, the Lakers diagrammed alternative plans, hoped they weren’t being played off other teams with more money to offer, and waited.

As the negotiating period inched through another afternoon, Kupchak manned the telephone in El Segundo. He declined to discuss the names or recent events that allowed him to be “guardedly optimistic,” being still 11 days before free-agent contracts could be signed, but spoke generally of the process.

“I feel we have a legitimate chance to acquire a player through the mid-level exception,” he said. “At the end of the day, a lot of the players who are prime free agents return to their teams or go to a team that has [salary] cap room. There’s a concern that you work and you’re aggressive and you don’t get a player. But, I think there’s a chance that we get a player that would have an impact with our group.”

The San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Clippers and, apparently, the Miami Heat are under the salary cap. Kidd arrives in San Antonio today. O’Neal will follow him in, later in the week.

P.J. Brown and Juwan Howard, free-agent power forwards, are shopping for teams, in some of the same places, even as the Lakers await a decision from Payton, which could be tied to Malone. Almost certainly, Kupchak would like to be done before, say, San Antonio decides it needs to put Malone beside Tim Duncan or, perhaps, New Jersey decides it needs to replace Kidd with Payton.

“When does it start?” Kupchak said. “I think that’s a concern for all teams. Once one starts to go, they all may start to go and it’s good to be in this thing at the beginning. I also think if you sweat it out you might end up with something, too. When all the dust settles, somebody might be looking at a good player when it’s done. But, that takes incredible patience and at great risk.

“I don’t think you can wait on it, and that’s not our intention.”

Malone has told Kupchak he would play for the Lakers at their price, or would take the veteran’s minimum ($1.5 million) if it allowed them to sign Payton. If Payton opted for a larger salary in another market, the Lakers would pay Malone more and try to solve their backcourt problems with someone such as Tyronn Lue and add a shooter such as Eric Piatkowski, though a lot can happen between now and July 16.

“You’re not going to hear me be optimistic about anything until there’s a signature on a document,” Kupchak said. “Believe me, I know how this works. We’ve been on the receiving end of players who’ve said they are going to come and a week later they pull out. I’ve seen it happen to other teams. So, until it’s in writing I’m not going to count on it.”

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Brian Cook, the Lakers’ first-round draft pick, signed his rookie contract. It was believed to be on the NBA’s rookie scale, a three-year deal worth $2.4 million.... Along with Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher can opt out of his contract after next season.