O’Neal Joins Bryant on Hold

Shaquille O’Neal never got out of his civilian clothes, such as they are, on Tuesday evening and Kobe Bryant never got on the bus, so training camp went another day without them, less of a concern to the Lakers, perhaps, than the arena-loads of people who come to see them.

Though O’Neal’s bruised left heel was found by Monday’s MRI exam to be without structural damage, O’Neal and Coach Phil Jackson apparently have agreed not to push the injury during training camp. O’Neal sat at the end of the bench, Horace Grant started at center for the Lakers in a 104-86 loss to the Phoenix Suns at the San Diego Sports Arena, and Bryant was expected to fly to Colorado this morning for the continuation of his preliminary hearing.

More, then, for Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who are left to pick their way through the triangle offense lacking a hypotenuse or two, knowing so much will change when O’Neal and Bryant are healthy.

With 13 days left before opening night, O’Neal will protect his heel and hope the down time will have little effect on his summer conditioning and strength program. He predicted it wouldn’t.

“We talked about it and I asked him how he felt about playing or not playing and what his feeling was,” Jackson said. “He said he’d just as soon not have a nagging injury affect him and maybe break into more than just a training camp injury, but also affect his regular-season play. So, we’re going to try to get that soreness of the heel before he plays.”

The Lakers play three times in four days beginning Thursday night at Staples Center. Jackson said he hoped O’Neal and Bryant would play by the end of the weekend.

“I’m not going to make a presumption about when he can play again,” Jackson said. “We’d love to have him on the court. We think playing together with Karl and Gary is really a remedy for the ballclub. But, right now, the regular season’s what counts.”

Asked whether he feared the injury would become an issue into the regular season, O’Neal said, “I won’t let it be an issue.”

*

O’Neal hinted Tuesday night that he would not insist on a maximum extension in his negotiations with the Lakers and that he understood the organizational fear of committing so many millions to one player, even if that one player is him. First, though, he participated in all of the usual negotiating hyperbole.

In a light moment before the game, O’Neal was asked if the concept of taking less money so a better team could be fielded around him made sense. Payton, from a nearby chair, chimed, “No,” and O’Neal laughed.

Payton, it was pointed out, took less.

“He doesn’t deserve less,” Payton said.

O’Neal laughed again.

“I’m not going to take that deal before it happens,” O’Neal said. “I’m not going to talk about this in the paper, because I don’t want to say something about people upstairs that I’ll probably regret. As a businessman, I’m not going to short myself, especially through you guys.”

*

Brian Cook, who had surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured dislocation of his left ring finger, will miss at least eight weeks, club officials said.

The rookie forward, chosen 24th overall by the Lakers in June, had a pin inserted into his finger that won’t be removed for at least four weeks. When Cook returns, he will have to play with a splint on his hand for the remainder of the season.

*

At midcourt before the game, Sun guard Stephon Marbury looked the yellow-and-purple-clad Malone up and down, then brought his hands to his head in mock confusion.

“Didn’t register,” Malone said with a laugh.

*

Derek Fisher led the Lakers with 14 points in Tuesday’s exhibition loss to the Suns. Malone had 10 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes, and Payton had seven points and four assists in the same minutes. The Lakers shot 34.1% (28 of 82) and had 20 turnovers. ... Koko Archibong and Maurice Carter were waived.