Lakers in state of confusion

LOS ANGELES — With the All-Star break over, the National Basketball Association (NBA) resumes its regular season and there is speculation the much-ballyhooed Los Angeles Lakers may implode to smithereens before the playoffs begin in May.

Center Shaquille O’Neal was everyone’s choice as MVP in the All-Star Game last Sunday but can he lift the Lakers back on the NBA throne without a cooperative Kobe Bryant like he did the West to a 136-132 win over the East? If the Lakers are to seriously threaten as title challengers, it’s no secret that coach Phil Jackson must inspire both O’Neal and Bryant to play together–not outdo each other. The problem is team harmony is shaky as neither O’Neal nor Bryant is inclined to yield his claim to top dog status in the Laker heirarchy.

A few weeks ago, Jackson declared whose side he’s on by casting his vote for O’Neal. The revelation was a minor shock considering Jackson and O’Neal have had their differences in the past. Besides, Jackson has never been known to publicly take sides. But in a situation where his own future is on the line, Jackson walked the conservative path. Bryant was reportedly miffed.

Of course, it’s not certain what future awaits Bryant. He may or may not play basketball next year, depending on how his rape case is adjudicated. O’Neal’s future is more determinable. The Big Aristotle appears to be in control of his destiny, if not his weight.

Jackson, 58, is in the final year of the $30 Million contract he signed in 1999. Late last summer, he began to negotiate for a contract extension. It’s not clear with whom Jackson is negotiating but management is definitely not represented by team owner Jerry Buss’ daughter Jeanie, the Lakers executive vice president of business operations who is the Zen Master’s girlfriend. The scuttlebutt is Jackson is seeking a huge salary increase the next two years and Buss is playing hard ball.

The plan was to settle Jackson’s contract before the All-Star break but Buss doused hopes of an early agreement by announcing the talks would be suspended until the end of the season. Buss is playing his cards like a poker master, knowing there’s an abundance of coaching talent in the open market–what with seven coaches so far fired during the season and 17–including 14 from the Eastern Conference–moving out since last year. Former Laker guard Byron Scott, recently terminated by the New Jersey Nets, is available.

Not only will Jackson be a free agent at the end of the campaign but also Bryant, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Horace Grant, Slava Medvedenko and Bryon Russell. If Buss intends to rock the boat, his chance will come sooner than later.

When Jackson chose O’Neal over Bryant as his anchor, it struck the embattled 25-year-old guard’s heart like a dagger. Now more than ever, Bryant needs reassurance and didn’t get it from his coach. No wonder Bryant is talking about leaving La La Land. He has declared his intent to cancel the final year of his contract–valued at $14.625 Million–and become a free agent. If Bryant opts out, he could still go back to the Lakers and sign a seven-year $141 Million deal. If he does a sign-and-trade, Bryant can ink up to $98.6 Million for six years with another team.

Bryant has openly criticized O’Neal for being "fat and out of shape," accused him of exaggerating injuries, and derided his leadership skills. If he leaves the Lakers, Bryant said it will be because of O’Neal’s "childlike selfishness and jealousy." O’Neal, for his part, castigated Bryant for not playing team ball. O’Neal said since the Lakers are his team, Bryant can walk out if he doesn’t like it.

In the recent All-Star Game, O’Neal and Bryant appeared to be trying to win the MVP trophy by outdoing each other. But in the end, the popular choice was O’Neal.

If Bryant leaves the Lakers, he could remain in L.A. with the Clippers. David Leon Moore of USA Today said "the Clippers’ hope is that Bryant, a potential free agent at the end of this season, might be eager to get out from under O’Neal’s shadow and just maybe, switch locker rooms." Another possibility is Bryant moving to Philadelphia, his hometown, if the 76ers agree to trade Allen Iverson to the Lakers.

Bryant, however, said he will not make up his mind until after the season. He stressed that staying with the Lakers is an option.

Despite their feud, Bryant and O’Neal said they’re pulling for Jackson. "I like Phil," said O’Neal. "He’s done a lot for me. He’s taken my game to the next level. I’m not the type of person that’s going to turn my back and say, ‘Let’s go get someone else.’ Phil’s my guy. From experience, things switched when Phil came here. He taught us a new system. He taught us how to play together. Phil’s the guy who took us over the hump."

Bryant said, "We get along fine. Our relationship has always been kind of dicey anyway, kind of a push-and-pull type of relationship. He knows I like to challenge everything and he challenges everything. Yet we’ve managed to be successful throughout the process."

If the regular season ended today, the Lakers would be in fifth place in the Western Conference. The ranking would mean the Lakers playing Dallas in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers’ 31-19 record isn’t bad considering the injuries to O’Neal, Bryant and Malone during the season.

Outspoken former player and TV commentator Charles Barkley took a two-sided dig at Bryant the other day when he said, "He needs to shut up about talking to the press about where he’s going to play basketball next year. He’s acting like he’s for sure going to be acquitted and he’s going to be free to play basketball. I think he’s making a mistake discussing this in the press because anyone who thinks jurors are fair is crazy."