Lakers job is Rudy T's if he wants it (KHOU)

<a href="http://www.khou.com/sports/rockets/stories/khou040623_jt_PE_Sports_Local_lakers_23.28c7956e5.html" Sources: Lakers job is Rudy T's if he wants it - KHOU.com</a>

LAKERS: Ex-Rockets coach is in line to replace Jackson after Riley's bid for control is denied.

07:25 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2004

By BRODERICK TURNER / The Press-Enterprise

All signs point to Rudy Tomjanovich being named the next coach of the Lakers, according to several NBA sources.

<img src="http://www.khou.com/sports/rockets/stories/M_IMAGE.fac4e2432c.93.88.fa.80.28c8bc189.jpg">
Rudy Tomjanovich

Tomjanovich met with Lakers owner Jerry Buss on Tuesday afternoon at Buss's Playa del Rey home and sources said it was Tomjanovich's job "to turn down."

The Lakers told Tomjanovich that they want to interview one more candidate and that they will inform him of their decision by this weekend, sources said.

The Lakers didn't make any announcement Tuesday, but they have said they'd like to have a replacement for Phil Jackson sooner rather than later. Plus, Buss is leaving this afternoon for his summer vacation in Italy.

The Lakers didn't think it was urgent to name a coach, but Tomjanovich impressed Buss with his modesty, honesty and coaching philosophy.

Tomjanovich, who won NBA championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995, is seeking a five-year deal worth between $4 million and $5 million.

He would come to a team that's in disarray. But the Lakers did get some good news Tuesday, from the sense of stability, when veteran guard Gary Payton exercised his $5.4 million option to remain with the team next year.

Shaquille O'Neal has requested a trade. Kobe Bryant, who has to stand trial for felony sexual assault, opted out of his contract and will explore free agency. Karl Malone hasn't decided if he'll retire or play again next season after he suffered a sprained right knee. Derek Fisher has until Thursday to decide if he'll opt out of his contract.

Despite denying he had an interest in the Lakers' coaching job, Miami Heat president Pat Riley met with Buss about the possibility of replacing Jackson, according to league sources.

Riley flew to Los Angeles on Monday and had about a seven-hour meeting with Buss at his home that lasted into the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Buss was intrigued by Riley because he coached the Lakers to four NBA championships in the 1980s, doing it in style and by running in what became the "Showtime" era.

But a sticking point with the Lakers was Riley's demand for personnel control. The Lakers refused to give that up, preferring to leave it in the hands of Buss, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and assistant general manager Ronnie Lester.

Riley would also leave a lot of money on the table if he left Miami. If he remains with the Heat for another year, Riley will be a vested owner and will get a five percent stake in the team, worth about $20 million.

The Lakers were concerned about Tomjanovich's health. He stepped down as coach of the Rockets after the 2003 season because of bladder cancer. But Tomjanovich has had several checkups and is said to have been given a clean bill of health.

Tomjanovich worked last season as a consultant with the Rockets and has two years left on his deal. He has worked out a buy-out deal with Rockets owner Les Alexander that will allow him to take the job without taking a huge financial hit.

The Lakers first approached Tomjanovich about his interest in coaching the team in early April at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, one of the NBA's pre-draft camps.

Tomjanovich has coached superstars before, when he had Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen at different times in Houston.

Tomjanovich has told confidants that he wants to talk to O'Neal and to Bryant to see how they can get the core of the Lakers that won three NBA championships together to work things out.

If Tomjanovich gets the job, he plans to bring Jim Boylen, Larry Smith, Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw in as assistants.

Payton said he returned to the Lakers because he wanted to prove to everybody that he "still has game left" after averaging 14.6 points in the regular season and 4.2 points in five games of the NBA Finals.

"I know I didn't have a good year and I didn't play well in the Finals, so I want to show people what I can do," Payton said. "Mr. Buss gave me a chance, and I want to do the right thing for him. Watch me this year, I'll be straight."

Payton said he has talked to the disgruntled O'Neal and with Malone. Payton said he plans on speaking with Bryant soon.

"Shaq is just mad right now," Payton said. "He's not getting any respect. He'll be OK in a little while. Karl is OK, and he's feeling better. I've got to talk with everybody to make sure they are doing good. I plan on going to Kobe's trial in Colorado just to support him."

Lakers spokesman John Black said Payton's announcement was what the team expected.

Also: The Lakers lost Jamal Sampson to Charlotte in the expansion draft Tuesday. But the Lakers get a trade exception for Sampson's salary for next year.

Reach Broderick Turner at bturner@pe.com