Payton Has Trouble With Feet

Gary Payton has two sore arches, part of the reason he did not play the fourth quarter or overtime of Game 2, and the reason he declined to go back into the game when Coach Phil Jackson requested it near the end of regulation.

Payton said Thursday he would need the summer to heal, but in the meantime has been fitted with new orthotic devices he hopes will ease the pain.

According to Jackson, he asked Payton to replace Derek Fisher with about three minutes left in the fourth quarter Tuesday night. Payton said he was in pain, and that he also was cold from sitting since the end of the third quarter.

“I was stiff, and Fish had just hit that big three,” Payton said.

Had his coach insisted, Payton said, “I would have gone back in.”

Jackson said that he did not think Payton had injured the team, and that he appreciated Payton’s honesty.

“We’re OK with that,” Jackson said.

*

Though much is left to shake out with the Lakers, Payton said he was leaning toward returning next season.

If he intends to leave, he’ll have to notify the team before the expansion draft, which will be held in less than two weeks.

*

The 27 other teams must submit to the league office their lists of eight protected players for the expansion draft by today, but the Lakers and Pistons have until 48 hours after the last game of the NBA Finals, unless that’s Game 7, in which case they will have 24 hours.

The expansion Charlotte Bobcats, the league’s 30th team, will begin building their roster in a draft held June 22 or 23, depending on the conclusion of the Finals.

*

Karl Malone was involved in a pregame altercation with a fan that led to the fan’s being expelled.

According to an NBA official, a complaint of assault was filed by the fan and tapes of the incident were obtained by local police.

Witnesses said the fan, whose name was unavailable, became confrontational when Malone arrived on the floor Thursday night before Game 3. Malone, according to the league officials, put his hand near the man’s face when spit upon and the fan then shoved Malone’s hand away.

*

Jackson, on Larry Bird’s recent observations on NBA race matters: “Didn’t hear it. Don’t understand it. We just need players. That’s what we need.”