Jackson-Laker Talks Still in Future Tense

Phil Jackson and the Lakers continue to wait for each other, as timelines and guidelines are nudged aside to preserve the possibility of a reunion.

Laker owner Jerry Buss said Wednesday that he hoped to meet with Jackson within a few days, a time frame that came and went without formal discussions. Neither Buss nor Jackson is sold on the other yet, and Jackson hasn’t committed to coaching any team next season.

Salary and roster considerations aside, Jackson has been taking stock of his health and mind-set. He has been bothered by arthritis in his knees and hips, as well as back and shoulder pain, remnants of an NBA playing career that lasted 874 games over 12 seasons. He also underwent an angioplasty in May 2003 to open a blocked artery, a health concern mentioned by Buss to media members Wednesday.

Jackson, 59, is atop the lists of the Lakers and New York Knicks and is being pursued by the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers, but he could just as easily sit out another season and restart the process next spring if he finds none of his suitors appealing.

Jackson’s agent, Todd Musburger, declined to comment specifically on negotiations with any team.

“The process that we knew awaited us is proceeding as planned,” Musburger said. “It is slow and deliberate, but I don’t feel that anyone is disappointed in the pace of the various conversations that might be taking place.”

Jackson continues to be a presence at Laker offices in El Segundo, having lunch Monday with longtime girlfriend Jeanie Buss, an executive vice president for the Lakers.

Jackson did not talk with Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak, who left Monday for a weeklong scouting trip in Europe, or Buss, who left for Hawaii last week.

Buss will return briefly this week before leaving Sunday for a six-week trip to Europe.

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The Lakers have increased prices in two of their nine season-ticket pricing plans, raising courtside seats and about 2,500 lower-level seats by 5%.

Courtside seats were increased from $2,000 to $2,100 per game. Seats in six lower-level sections between the baskets -- 101, 102, 110, 111, 112 and 119 -- were raised from $200 to $210 per game.

The costs for the other seven Laker season-ticket pricing plans were unchanged, a team spokesman said.

A total of 2,620 seats were increased, about 17.5% of all tickets sold by the Lakers. More than 12,000 were not increased.

Staples Center, not the Lakers, controls 160 luxury suites and nearly 2,500 “premier” seats in the lower bowl. Owners of these seats receive tickets to Laker, Clipper, King, Avenger and Spark games at Staples Center. Price increases on these seats are based on existing lease agreements.

Buyers of these tickets are given access to games involving numerous local teams at Staples Center, and it is unclear whether prices will be increased for these tickets.

Laker season-ticket renewal notices are typically sent in late June after a long, reasonably productive playoff run. Notices for the 2005-06 season were sent out Thursday, the same day Buss left for Hawaii.

Full payment is due July 6, more than three weeks earlier than usual, in part to allow Laker officials enough time to process upgrade requests in case of cancellations.