Lakers’ Shaw Will Retire

Brian Shaw, the sturdy guard who had a hand in each of the Lakers’ last three NBA championships, will announce his retirement as a player today. He will remain with the organization in other capacities.

The Lakers had offered him a place on their training-camp roster. Shaw, who turned 37 in March, near the end of his 14th NBA season, declined after consideration, and instead will serve the franchise in scouting, development coaching and consulting.

He played four seasons for the Lakers, earning a reputation for selflessness, leadership and perspective in a locker room that often required a veteran’s touch. Shaw averaged only four points in 284 games as a Laker, but his banked three-pointer against the Portland Trail Blazers late in the third quarter of Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals was among the memorable plays of that remarkable comeback, igniting the organization’s run of championships.

Shaw also developed an on-court relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, frequently drawing O’Neal’s praise as a passer.

Like Ron Harper before him, Shaw became a heady, reliable guard in Coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense. While higher profile teammates sometimes bickered over having the ball and scoring opportunities, Shaw often filled his line of the box score with assists, steals and blocks.

Shaw, who played at UC Santa Barbara, was taken by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1988 draft and played for seven NBA teams and one Italian League franchise.

In his new role, Shaw apparently will be based in Oakland, reporting variously to General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Jackson, and working as both a professional and amateur scout.

He will be in Hawaii when camp opens and could be reinstated as a player if the Lakers run low on guards. They open camp next week with Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Kareem Rush and Jannero Pargo in the backcourt.

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Free agent forward Bryon Russell has been a recent regular at the Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo.... Centers Jamal Sampson (wrist) and Eric Chenowith (shoulder) are nursing injuries.