Stars Aren’t Here, but Drama Begins

Going on 48 hours into the quiet part of Laker training camp, the recap has General Manager Mitch Kupchak sounding cool about coming contract negotiations with Shaquille O’Neal, Coach Phil Jackson implying O’Neal would be expected at both ends of two-a-days while other veterans would be excused, and wafting rumors about Magic Johnson’s health and Kobe Bryant’s support team.

In between, Jackson mystified club officials by announcing the signing of free-agent forward Bryon Russell on Tuesday, a day before it occurred, and now it couldn’t be an odder start to the odd season if rookie forward Luke Walton quit to become manager of the “Nate Walton for Governor” campaign.

As it is, Nate, Luke’s brother and a former Laker summer leaguer, is on his own on Tuesday -- “I know he’ll have at least one vote,” Luke said, meaning Luke’s -- and the Lakers are ever newsworthy, even with their core players still an ocean away.

A day after saying little about O’Neal’s extension other than to warn reporters not to make “any assumptions” regarding its worth or duration, Kupchak received a call from O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rogers, who requested that further negotiations be made directly, according to team sources. O’Neal was said to be upset as well. Talks probably won’t start for two weeks.

“This will be negotiated between two parties,” Rogers said Wednesday. “I’m not going to have a comment on it until we jointly have a comment on it,” meaning in a news conference when negotiations are done.

Rogers also declined to divulge the reaction by O’Neal, due to arrive today and practice Friday, saying, “Those things need to stay behind closed doors.”

Meantime, Jackson is unhappy with the league rule that forbids players with a minimum of four years’ experience from practicing before Friday, and has scheduled morning and evening workouts in an effort to have everyone ready for next week’s exhibition games against the Golden State Warriors. He said Karl Malone and Horace Grant, in particular, would have the option to sit out some of the sessions, given their ages and years of NBA service, as might Bryant, because of his off-season shoulder and knee surgeries.

Jackson said Tuesday he was “giving credit where credit’s due,” and Wednesday that “we’ll see how it is,” adding, “There’s a difference between having put in 10, 12, 14 years of basketball play and not. We’ll see how everybody goes.”

On the camp’s periphery, the idle Internet gossip had Johnson in failing health -- “He’s fine, 100% fine,” said friend Lon Rosen, who received several calls on the subject -- and Bryant firing his agent, Rob Pelinka, which was denied by a source close to Bryant.

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Jackson said he would address the full roster this week on how players should conduct themselves with the media regarding Bryant’s situation.

The recommended strategy: Duck.

“Just, you know, how to dodge questions that you guys present,” he said. “How to play down issues that could make for headlines. How to not put blood in the water, so to speak, and feed the frenzy.... So, we’ll do a little media training in real quick order.”

Although dozens of reporters are expected Friday, the gym will be short at least one camera crew; “Celebrity Justice” had its credential request denied.

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The Lakers and Jackson are expected to agree to a contract extension of at least two years.

Owner Jerry Buss is in town and even watched practice Wednesday, but what once seemed imminent has been delayed.

“It’s certainly not something I’m anxious about at all,” Jackson said. “It’s not what’s important about this season.”