Most fans come back for more

It was ingrained in the minds of many Lakers officials throughout the off-season: How would season-ticket holders react to all the turbulence?

If it wasn’t the Lakers’ rapid dismissal from the playoffs that potentially scared them away, it was the chaos that followed a few weeks later when Kobe Bryant asked to be traded.

Would they renew or release? Snap up or toss out renewal offers that arrived in the mail?

Season-ticket holders renewed at a 93% rate, down 4% from last season, a drop officials feared would be worse for a franchise that has not won a playoff series since defeating Minnesota in the 2004 Western Conference finals.

“You’ve got to be pleased any time you’re north of 90% without making the Western Conference finals or the NBA Finals,” said Tim Harris, the Lakers’ senior vice president of business operations and chief marketing officer.

Renewal averages across the league are typically about 85%.

Season-ticket holders are important enough for a franchise valued at $530 million that Lakers owner Jerry Buss sent a letter to some of them in June, three weeks after Bryant demanded to be traded and two weeks after renewal forms were mailed.

“You want to win. We want to win,” Buss said in the letter. “I believe that we have always shown a willingness to do what needs to be done and spend what needs to be spent to deliver you championship-caliber basketball. We remain committed to that philosophy.”

In June, the Lakers increased ticket prices across the board for a second consecutive season, by an average of almost 5%. Courtside seats were increased from $2,200 to $2,300 a game, a 4.5% change. Seats in six lower-level sections between the baskets were raised from $220 to $230, also a 4.5% increase.

Even so, every courtside-ticket holder renewed this season. The Lakers also added 15 courtside seats by moving media members away from one of the baselines, leading to an extra $1.4 million in revenue.

Season-ticket holders renewed last season at a 97% rate, a 5% increase from 2005-06 as fans invested in a team that almost upset Phoenix in the first round of the 2006 playoffs.

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Vladimir Radmanovic had 14 points and Derek Fisher and Maurice Evans each had 13 as the Lakers defeated the Charlotte Bobcats, 113-93, in an exhibition Saturday at Staples Center.

Bryant had six points and four assists in 21 minutes for the Lakers (2-2), who play the Clippers tonight at Staples Center.

Charlotte forward Adam Morrison was helped off the court in the third quarter after hurting his left knee while jumping out to guard Luke Walton. Morrison was initially diagnosed with a sprained knee, although X-rays and an MRI exam will be conducted today.

Former UCLA center Ryan Hollins started at center for Charlotte and had two points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.

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There will be an odd man out at center. Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum are fighting for time there, but Coach Phil Jackson indicated there was room for only two at the position.

“They’ll sort it out,” Jackson said. “They’ll start playing and the competitiveness will start to eliminate someone who’s not playing well enough.” Mihm or Brown could eventually be shifted to power forward, he added.

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The Lakers rehired former coach Rudy Tomjanovich in their scouting/player personnel department.

Tomjanovich had been with the team since stepping down as head coach halfway through the 2004-05 season, but his old deal -- part of a $9-million buyout package -- expired in July. Among his responsibilities will be statistical analysis and assessment of individual player reports throughout the league.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com