Butler Is Unhappy He’ll Miss Reunion

Then there are the other subplots ...

Brian Grant and Lamar Odom, two-thirds of the package the Lakers got in return for Shaquille O’Neal, will go against their former team today while the other third, Caron Butler, will watch at home on television, with more than a trace of resentment.

Butler, suspended by the league for today’s game because he punched New Orleans guard Dan Dickau in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game, let loose with his thoughts and frustrations Friday.

“I’m not happy with the decision,” said Butler, who, by league rules, is not allowed to be at today’s game. “By the time my hand had gotten to Dan, my hand was open. I was pulling him off of me and that was it. There was an incident probably 30 seconds prior to that in which he clipped Chris Mihm. The same thing had happened on the fastbreak: I was running out, he dived on my legs, a leg that I had surgery on, I was getting him off my leg.

“I’m not mad at him. I’m just like disappointed with the whole situation. It’s a big-time game, I’m a big part of this franchise, [it’s] a game that I really want to play in against my former team.”

Butler, the Lakers’ third-leading scorer at 13.3 points a game, was also fined $21,540 by the league.

“I don’t get the last word,” he said. “They do. I’ve just got to live with that decision.”

Butler hit Dickau in the abdominal area after Dickau fell onto the back of Butler’s legs and knocked him over in the final minutes of the Lakers’ 101-89 victory over the Hornets. Dickau was assessed a technical foul on the play but was neither fined nor suspended.

Because of his absence, Butler said, today’s game would not be an accurate determination in terms of who got the better of whom in the July trade.

“I think it will really be judged in March, because I was in that trade and I won’t be out there,” he said.

The Lakers and Heat play in Miami on St. Patrick’s Day.

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Kobe Bryant, not always known as an O’Neal proponent, said the Miami center deserved an ovation today from Staples Center fans.

“He should get a great one,” he said. “For the opening tip, there’ll be a little ceremony for him. I think people should really cheer for him. I think he should get a warm reception.”

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Odom, averaging 14.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, isn’t overly concerned with the O’Neal-Bryant drama taking the spotlight from him. “Relationships are relationships,” he said. “Not all of them are good. I’m friends with both of them. I expect when we go there, either you shake hands or you don’t. The jump ball will go up, and that will be it.”

TODAY

vs. Miami, Noon, Ch. 7

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570); KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 14-11; Heat 21-7.

Record vs. Heat (2003-04) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Heat has won 10 consecutive games, including a 109-107 victory Thursday over Sacramento, and could tie a team record today for consecutive victories. Shaquille O’Neal is averaging 21 points, although Dwyane Wade leads the team with 23.3 points per game. Miami guard Damon Jones leads the league with 80 three-point baskets.