Winter Pays Team a Visit, Offers Plenty of Thoughts

Amid the trainers and equipment managers scurrying in and out of the Laker locker room, an unassuming visitor slipped into the mix an hour before Wednesday’s game.

Tex Winter, the architect of the triangle offense that supported three Laker championships, dropped by and dispensed his thoughts on what was and wasn’t working for the Lakers in their recent effort to re-embrace the triangle.

He also had a few thoughts on the future of a former colleague.

“As everybody knows, Phil [Jackson] is very unpredictable,” Winter said. “I’ve talked to him, and he’s indicated to me that when he gets back from Australia, New Zealand, Bora Bora, wherever he is, that if his health is real good, if the right thing comes along, he might be interested.”

Knowing what the follow-up question would be, Winter answered it ahead of time.

“He didn’t indicate it would be the Lakers or anybody else,” he said.

Winter, who drove to the game from his home 45 miles away in Salem, Ore., said it would not be an easy task for the Lakers to install the triangle midway through the season, a plan made that much more complex because of so many new faces and so few All-Stars compared with years past.

“With a team like this -- less talent is not the correct word -- these guys are good basketball players, but they needed the help of an offense much more so than the superstars did,” Winter said. “That’s why I think it’s good they try to get back to a system of play. Of course the time factor’s against them.”

Winter appeared to be enjoying his time away from the game but didn’t rule out at least a partial return to business.

“I’m still available for consulting,” he said. “If I can find the right place where I can just help pretty much on my own schedule, I might be interested in something.”

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The trade deadline is today at noon, and as of late Wednesday the Lakers weren’t expected to do anything of note.

“It’s unlikely we’re going to make a trade,” Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

The Lakers don’t seem too intent on trading forward Lamar Odom, contrary to rumors that circulated last weekend at the All-Star game. The team issued a news release Wednesday announcing Odom’s trip this afternoon to read books to children at a school in Los Angeles.

“I was never worried about that type of thing,” said Odom, who has four years and $45.2 million left on his contract after this season.

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Lawyers for the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape will question Bryant under oath Friday as part of a deposition taken in the accuser’s civil lawsuit against Bryant. The session will last about seven hours. Bryant is expected to play Friday night against the Detroit Pistons at Staples Center.... Forward Caron Butler did not play for a second consecutive game because of what team officials said was a stomach virus.