Adding Pippen is unlikely

Forty-one years old and three seasons removed from an NBA roster, Scottie Pippen is drifting away from the Lakers’ plans.

“First of all, we don’t have a roster spot,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. “We have 15 guys. The other thing is we may need someone to play longer than 15 minutes a game. We have a couple guys right now that are playing in situations that normally I wouldn’t ask them to play. [Maurice] Evans’ knee has been problematic for a week now. It’s a shame.”

The Lakers are already at the maximum 15-player roster, but the league has agreed to allow them to sign another player, with restrictions. The player could be signed only to a 10-day contract and only if four of the Lakers’ injured players stay inactive for 14 days.

Chris Mihm, Vladimir Radmanovic and Lamar Odom are a given to remain inactive for two weeks, but Luke Walton and Ronny Turiaf are expected to return within a week, so the Lakers could add Pippen, or any other free agent, the old-fashioned way -- by waiving a player, an unlikely event now that Aaron McKie and Shammond Williams are getting playing time.

Pippen averaged only 5.9 points and 17.9 minutes with Chicago in 2003-04, his last pro season, although Jackson thought he could benefit a team in certain situations.

“I think he would help,” Jackson said. “I think he can only play like 10, 15, 20 minutes. He’s not at that level in his life where he can play a 40-minute game. He’s got the skills still to do some things.”

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Evans continues to struggle with a sore right knee that might need to be drained again, he said.

“There’s so much swelling that it restricts the movement,” he said. “I know we definitely need bodies right now, but I know my knee could definitely use some rest to recover.”

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Jackson had not spoken to Kobe Bryant about changing his game to avoid more suspensions. “He knows that there’s a certain sense of propriety he has to follow and a certain guideline,” Jackson said.... Jackson had never lost five consecutive games twice in a season until Friday.... Philadelphia forward Andre Iguodala had 31 points and eight rebounds against the Lakers. Said Jackson: “Wasn’t that the guy that our great basketball knowledge [expert, Dick] Vitale, said, ‘Oh what a mistake they made taking this guy in that position.’?”

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com