Walton Goes Back to Lakers

Luke Walton, who disappeared from the Lakers’ equation when Phil Jackson left and reemerged when Jackson returned, signed a two-year contract Monday to return to the team.

Walton’s agent, Lon Babby, had announced Walton would return to the team in mid-July.

Prized by Jackson for his passing, the second-round draft choice averaged 10 minutes a game as a rookie.

However, Walton was slowed by injuries at the start of last season and lost playing time as the new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich, used players such as Jumaine Jones ahead of him.

“We’re happy to have Luke back,” General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “We know last year was somewhat of a lost year for him. He got hurt in training camp, fell out of the rotation and never got back in.

“But we do know he’s a good system player who flourished to some extent his first year with Phil, and we hope he will again.”

The Lakers met with free-agent guard Derek Anderson on Sunday night and worked him out Monday morning, but took no immediate action.

Anderson missed 66 games because of injuries in his last two seasons in Portland before being waived. The Lakers also will have him undergo a physical examination.

The team is still looking for a guard to run the offense, as when Jackson brought in Ron Harper in 1999.

The Lakers also would be interested in rangy guards such as Orlando’s Doug Christie and New York’s Allan Houston, who are expected to be waived.

However, the Magic and Knicks have yet to release the players and might wait until next Monday’s deadline, hoping to get something back in a trade.

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-- Mark Heisler