Lack of Extension Probably Means More Laker Tension

Phil Jackson last fall brought up the possibility of a Laker implosion, and perhaps now he is in position to beat it out of town, by a step or two.

The Lakers have reached the All-Star break lacking in solidarity and achievement, and the decision by Laker management to back away from contract negotiations with the coach has added to the sense of instability.

Those close to the negotiations said the last contract extension offer from owner Jerry Buss was an improvement over Jackson’s $6-million base salary, and therefore Jackson would have maintained his place as the league’s highest-paid coach.

But as the season became unsettled, as the reality of so much roster turnover drew nearer, and as Kobe Bryant’s relationships with Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal worsened, negotiations bogged down, according to several sources.

Jackson’s rapport with Bryant has never been consistently good, primarily because of Bryant’s doubts about the triangle offense and his role in it beside O’Neal. And, although several people in the organization described Bryant as being very unhappy with Jackson lately, one tempered it with the observation, “[Bryant] is sour on a lot of people. Phil’s just one guy on the list.”

Few in the Laker organization believe that the decision will boil down to Jackson or Bryant. Most are convinced Bryant will leave after the season.

Jackson, sources said, began to wonder what next year’s Lakers might look like, what with the probable departure of Bryant and the possible exodus of Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Horace Grant and others. Laker management, therefore, began to suspect it was negotiating not only with Jackson and his representative, Todd Musburger, but against Jackson’s growing suspicion that the team would be very different, and probably not as talented.

Some within the organization had begun to consider the wisdom of a two- or three-year investment and perhaps another $20 million spent for the coach of a roster that might not be of championship caliber.

Those doubts came together last weekend, when it became clear to General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Buss that there would be no agreement soon.

The Lakers called an end to those negotiations, though with the hope that the season turns, their best players return, and Jackson deems the coming few seasons worthy of his time and energy.

If he left the Lakers, Jackson would appear to have his pick of most NBA jobs. Already, there is speculation that he could return to Chicago, now that former Bull general manager Jerry Krause has become a New York Yankee scout. The New York Knicks have tempted Jackson before. Philadelphia would allow Jackson another chance at another superstar, Allen Iverson, and Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban has the money to win just about any bidding war.

And if Jackson leaves, Laker insiders have assistants Jim Cleamons and Kurt Rambis as favorites to succeed him. Pat Riley, who stepped down as Miami coach before the season, has a year and a half on his contract, and a sizable fortune waiting if he completes it. Byron Scott, out of work for two weeks after being fired by New Jersey, might be a possibility. O’Neal once spoke unkindly of Rambis, but their relationship has improved.

Either way, said one league source, “I think it’s more of a risk for the Lakers to wait. They’re the ones making the gamble.”

The Lakers have played 50 games around Bryant’s court dates and various injuries, Malone’s torn knee ligament, O’Neal’s sore calf and a growing hunch that they’ve all reached a point where the basketball must become a priority. It hasn’t happened yet and the situation, according to one player, has become “dangerous” as a result.