Rush Trade Likely

The Lakers are close to trading Kareem Rush to the Charlotte Bobcats for a second-round selection in the 2005 draft, a move that would end the yet-to-develop Laker career of the third-year shooting guard.

Rush, acquired by the Lakers in a draft-day trade with the Toronto Raptors in 2002, has been radiant at times, cool at others, and could be heading to the first-year franchise with an announcement coming as early as today.

Rush, 24, had his best moment as a Laker last May, making six of seven three-point attempts to help eliminate Minnesota in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. But he is prone to cold spells and has been hampered by a chronically sore tendon in his right ankle. Most recently, he forgot to wear orthotics in a new pair of shoes in the Lakers’ exhibition opener and had to sit out the next five games because of soreness in the ankle.

In October, the Lakers declined to pick up the fourth-year option for Rush, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer. Rush has made only four of 20 shots this season and is averaging 6.5 minutes a game.

Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Sunday a deal was not yet in place. Bobcat General Manager/Coach Bernie Bickerstaff told the Charlotte Observer, “We have something pending that could come to fruition [today].”

The Denver Nuggets also offered a second-round pick for Rush, but the Lakers prefer Charlotte’s offer because the Bobcats’ draft pick is expected to be higher than Denver’s and the Lakers did not want to send Rush to a Western Conference team.

Rush stopped short of confirming the trade, but acknowledged hearing about its likelihood and said he would welcome a new start with a different team.

“I thought this year was going to be a breakout year for me,” he said. “It still could happen, it might just not be with this team. I wasn’t performing out here, so change might be better for me.”

The trade also would open a salary slot for backup point guard Tierre Brown, currently playing with a non-guaranteed contract because the Lakers are saving their 15th and final guaranteed contract for Karl Malone, if he decides to return.

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On the second day of a four-day gap between games, Kobe Bryant took a few minutes to analyze the Lakers’ 10-7 start.

“Sometimes you need a breath of fresh air,” he said Sunday. “That’s exactly what this is. I think it’s good for the city of Los Angeles. The past few years, we’ve all just been used to us being the favorites, just being on top all the time, just kind of winning. It kind of brings kind of an anticlimactic feel to it, as opposed to starting where everybody doesn’t have any expectations for us and then finally getting back up to the top. Then it’s like you really have a sense of appreciation. I think that’s kind of the story that’s playing out right now.”

Bryant has adjusted his game because of defenses geared to stop him with double teams or gimmick schemes similar to a box-and-one. He is averaging 6.8 assists, better than his career average of 4.3, and he had his 11th career triple-double Friday.

“I’ve had games like that but in the past, it’s just gotten overshadowed, rightfully so because of Shaq [O’Neal]’s dominance,” Bryant said. “Now everybody has me under a microscope, so they really pay attention to the details and stuff that I’m doing.”