Jackson Nearly Ready to Cut to the Chase

Many of the 20 players listed on the Lakers’ preseason roster huffed and ran through a three-hour practice Saturday, but some will soon get more rest than they had planned.

Coach Phil Jackson said he and his staff would start trimming the roster beginning Monday.

“We’ll see how things go tomorrow and Monday,” Jackson said after practice. “Some of [the decisions] will have to do with the injuries we have, because you want players to be able to play. But it’s tough to play 12 guys in a competitive situation, let alone the 19 or 20 we have.

“We’ll try and get somewhere where we can work with players and get some benefits out of the exhibition games.”

One of the key camp battles is for the backup center spot behind Shaquille O’Neal. After five days of practice, Horace Grant has a slight edge over Eric Chenowith and Jamal Sampson because of his familiarity with the triangle offense.

“Horace is the one most comfortable in the backup role,” Jackson said. “Eric and Jamal are still kind of finding their way around.... And the young kid, Brian Cook, has shown some ability at center, small forward and power forward. He’s going to be able to play all three of those positions in certain game situations.”

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O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were held out of most of Saturday’s workout. O’Neal is recovering from a bruised left heel, and Bryant’s surgically repaired right knee had some soreness and swelling.

“Kobe has done some things on the court,” Jackson said. “But any time you have an operation like that, it’s usually the muscles around the injury or the leg strength that you have to have that is the problem.

“That’s what he has to reestablish, the leg strength so he can carry himself. I think the joint is OK. But whenever you do activity, there’s going to be some residual swelling and stiffness.... He’s in pretty good shape; I think he’ll be able to go tomorrow.”

Also taking it easy was Bryon Russell, nursing a sprained left ankle. “He couldn’t play too much today, although he was on the court for a while,” Jackson said. “But he’s getting better, and we hope he can play on Tuesday [against Phoenix].”

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Jackson said Devean George, projected to be in the opening-night lineup, has done little so far to merit a starter’s role.

“Devean has been a disappointment so far,” Jackson said of the fifth-year pro.

“I think he came in assuming the role might be his. And there are no assumptions. You have to go out and produce. That’s really important for him.”

Even though Jackson had a slight grin, the frustration could be heard in his voice. The Lakers would like George to be an outside and three-point threat along with Gary Payton and Bryant. That would force teams to guard them honestly, instead of just packing the defense around O’Neal and Karl Malone under the basket.

Jackson said Russell and rookie Luke Walton are pressuring George for playing time.

“We think he’s got the ability,” Jackson said of George. “He just has to get some more confidence and direction behind his play. I think he’ll do fine. He’s going to have opportunities because people can overlook him.”

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Former Laker (and Clipper) Ron Harper visited the team’s El Segundo facility. When asked if Jackson had “floated the idea” of his returning to the league, Harper chuckled. “Man, I’m too old to play basketball,” he said.... Jackson said Rick Fox, still recovering from spring surgery to repair a tendon in his left foot, might be able to start working with the team on the court in November.