George Close to Returning From Injury

After a series of false starts, Devean George is close to coming back from off-season surgery on his left ankle, a return delayed more than two months because of complications in his left leg.

George was initially expected back in mid-November, but the muscles in his upper left leg atrophied because of lack of use while the ankle was immobilized for a month in a walking boot. He also developed tendinitis in his left knee as a result of the immobilization.

“Mentally it’s rough,” George said. “Setbacks and trying to do things that you can’t do, the whole trial-and-error thing. You’re feeling good and then try to do something, you’re like ‘I used to be able to do this’ and then you try it and you can’t do it.”

When George finally returns, it will set up a question of a different type: Will he be a Laker for long?

As the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches, George, considered a steady defensive presence by some general managers, could find himself elsewhere if the Lakers try to reduce their glut of small forwards. George, who makes $4.5 million this season, has one more year left on his contract, for $5 million.

“What I’ve told Devean is I want to get him back healthy first, and then we’ll take a deep breath and see where the roster stands and where he fits, and I’ll talk with [General Manager] Mitch [Kupchak] and [Coach] Rudy [Tomjanovich] about it,” said George’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. “None of that matters until he gets himself back on the court. He’s had great years there and great success, [but] when you’re hurt, nothing tastes good.”

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With Kobe Bryant out at least another week, Caron Butler will cover Seattle shooting guard Ray Allen in Tuesday’s game at Staples Center, putting Butler in an unusual position.

Allen and Bryant had a much-publicized spat in the preseason, where Allen predicted Bryant would behave selfishly and ask for a trade within a year or two if the Lakers were unsuccessful in reconstructing their team. Butler, who attended the University of Connecticut, is friends with Allen, who preceded Butler at Connecticut by five years.

“Ray felt like he had to get that off his chest,” Butler said. “It’s quashed. We’re professionals. Kobe went out, they played, it’s over with. It’s all done and over with.

“If anything, I’ll be a mediator in that situation. There’s two dudes that I have a great deal of respect for. I don’t want words to be thrown back and forth. I’ll just deaden the whole situation.”

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Lamar Odom said he is not among the top 10 All-Star vote-getters for Western Conference forwards because, simply stated, he’s not playing at an All-Star level.

“Not when you’re talking about the All-Stars that are mentioned at power forward in the West,” said Odom, averaging 14.9 points and 10.2 rebounds. “Not just yet. [Kevin] Garnett, [Tim] Duncan, [Amare] Stoudemire, [Dirk] Nowitzki are playing All-Star basketball. I could be playing a little bit better.”

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Tomjanovich, three games from the halfway point of his first season as Laker coach, assessed the team to date.

“Not to get a violin out or whatever, but the way that this year was supposed to be projected was supposed to be with some veterans and the possibilities [of] Vlade [Divac], Karl Malone, whatever,” he said. “I think there’s been tremendous positives. At times it doesn’t seem that way because the expectations are so high from a lot of people. We don’t even have the right lineups and we’re playing guys at different positions. I’ve been very proud of what these guys have done.”