Hawaii Only for Vacation

Of all the islands in all the oceans, it seemed more than coincidental that Laker owner Jerry Buss and Phil Jackson’s agent would vacation in the same spot within a week of Rudy Tomjanovich’s resignation as Laker coach.

The Lakers declined to comment, but the son of Jackson’s agent said no negotiations were planned in Hawaii, where Buss has been since last weekend.

Jackson’s agent, Todd Musburger, arrived Tuesday in Hawaii to visit a son who works there as a marine biologist. His trip had been scheduled weeks in advance.

“There are no meetings planned,” said Brian Musburger, who works for his father’s Chicago-based agency. “Phil’s in New Zealand. Todd’s in Hawaii, but he’s there to see his son.”

Said Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak: “We’re not going to comment on who we’re meeting with, when we’re meeting with them or where we’re going to meet, whether it’s now, in a month or at the end of the summer.”

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Detroit Piston Coach Larry Brown has been mentioned as an eventual replacement for Tomjanovich, which would sit well with Kobe Bryant, a longtime admirer of Brown. The Lakers and Pistons play tonight in Detroit.

“I love him,” Bryant said. “I’ve been fortunate to have sat down and talked with him in the past about basketball things and stuff like that. He’s an amazing coach. If he’s available to be considered, I’m sure he’s one of the guys that Mitch and Dr. Buss would consider.”

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The Lakers return tonight to the scene of the end of a dynasty last June after the Pistons’ convincing five-game victory in the NBA Finals.

“Seems like years ago, actually, with all the things that have happened since then,” Laker Coach Frank Hamblen said.

The Pistons have remained near the top of the Eastern Conference, but the Lakers are fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Hamblen said the Pistons might consider tonight a rematch of sorts. “But the way we’re playing and the status of our team, I wouldn’t consider us a Finals team,” Hamblen said before Wednesday’s game.

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Laker guard Chucky Atkins, traded from the Pistons to the Boston Celtics before last season’s trade deadline, did not receive a championship ring or a playoff share from the Pistons, but he said he was pulling for his former teammates in the Finals.

“I know all the hard work they put in,” he said. “I was there with those guys. I thought they could win before Game 1, before the series even started.”

Atkins said it was tough to be dealt to the Celtics, who barely made the playoffs, but he understood why he was left out of the Pistons’ playoff earnings.

“I wasn’t there for a championship,” Atkins said. “What would I get a ring [or a playoff share] for? I don’t deserve that.”

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TONIGHT

at Detroit, 5 PST, Ch. 9, TNT

Site -- The Palace of Auburn Hills.

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

Records -- Lakers 25-22; Pistons 28-19.

Record vs. Pistons (2003-04) -- 1-1.

Update -- Piston center Ben Wallace, averaging 11.9 rebounds, was selected as a reserve for the All-Star game. Guard Richard Hamilton is averaging 20.2 points.