Grant May Miss 6 Weeks

Horace Grant has been told he could be out six weeks or more because of torn cartilage in his right hip, a Laker official said Monday. The Laker forward is scheduled to be examined by a specialist Wednesday.

Still, Grant predicted Monday he would play again this season, though he granted it might not be before the playoffs, and perhaps not in the early rounds.

“Knowing me,” he said, “I’m expecting to play again.”

The news of what could be a severe injury was a blow to the Lakers, whose season has suffered through ailments to Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Grant was expected to be an important postseason element, given his vast playoff experience and his ability to back up the center and power forward positions.

“We’re not going to jump to conclusions,” Coach Phil Jackson said, adding the specialist would bring “more clarity to it.”

Asked whether he believed Grant could return by the conclusion of the regular season or the start of the playoffs, Jackson said, “We can’t assume. We’re hopeful.”

Grant recently sat out five games because of what was diagnosed as a hip strain before attempting to play Friday night in Minnesota. The pain returned, and Grant did not play Saturday in Chicago.

An MRI test performed Monday, according to the team, showed “an abnormality” in the ring of cartilage around the rim of the hip joint. Grant said he thought he was injured about three weeks ago, during a game. He played as long as he could, but the pain grew worse.

After more than a week of rest and medication, Grant found that his symptoms persisted. According to medical personnel, if the specialist confirms torn cartilage, the typical treatments are rest or rehabilitation exercises or, in extreme cases, arthroscopic surgery.

An hour before game time, Grant and Malone, power forwards age 38 and 40, respectively, sat in the corner of the Laker locker room, laughing ruefully. Malone had been off the injured list for two games, after 39 games of inactivity. During most of it, Grant had logged unscheduled minutes at power forward, jokingly prodding Malone to come back. So, Malone smiled at him Monday.

“Got those Snickers bars?” he asked, laughing. “Gonna be here a while?”

Grant wore street clothes, and Malone prodded back, telling him to get dressed.

“I’m not right,” Grant said. “It’s just one of those freak things, I guess.”

Worse, so confident were the Lakers that Grant was healthy, they chose a power forward -- Brian Cook -- to go on the injured list Friday, when they activated Malone, leaving them with Malone, Slava Medvedenko and rookie Luke Walton.

If Grant is unable to play for a long period -- and playoff rosters are due shortly after the regular season ends -- Jackson said the organization would consider adding a frontcourt player.

General Manager Mitch Kupchak is expected to return from a European scouting trip on Thursday. Team officials insisted their interest in Dennis Rodman was minimal.

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