Lakers to revamp?

Fans are talking about the Los Angeles Lakers going four-ward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) next season but if coach Phil Jackson hopes to add another title to his growing collection, he's got to seriously consider shaking up his roster.

Not that Jackson's shopping around Shaquille O'Neal or Kobe Bryant. They're as untouchable in the Lakers organization as Jackson himself. Shaq, Kobe, and Jackson form the club’s balance of power — the perfect trinity. They represent the triangle that is the Lakers' pillar of strength.

Before Jackson came along, Shaq and Kobe were like headless fowl in a turkey shoot. They've been playing together since the 1996-97 season but never got to the Finals until Jackson jumped aboard the bandwagon three years later.

Shaq was one of several jolly, overgrown giants roaming the NBA landscape, searching for a championship identity, in four years at Orlando. He led the Magic to the 1994-95 Finals but Houston was merciless in carving out a 4-0 shutout.

It took Jerry West to rescue Shaq from a losing situation in Orlando. And it was also West who brought Kobe to L.A. straight out of high school. Too bad West is no longer involved in the Lakers front office to enjoy the fruits of his vision. Jackson made sure of that.

Curiously, the New Jersey Nets--who were swept by the Lakers in this year’s Finals--had a chance to draft Bryant in 1996. But general manager Johnny Nash picked Kerry Kittles instead. Kittles was the No. 8 overall pick. Bryant was the 13th. Charlotte picked Bryant then traded him to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.

Jackson, 56, likes to shape his own destiny. He likes to be answerable only to the top man, Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. That's why West was shoved out of the picture. Jackson has no loyalties except to himself. Look at what he did to his venerable mentor Tex Winter who sat behind on the Lakers bench, instead of on it, last season in a demotion orchestrated by Jackson to accommodate Kurt Rambis. So why the dagger in Winter's heart? Rambis' wife happens to be Jeanne Buss' best friend. In case you didn't know, Jackson left his wife for Jeanne, the boss' daughter, and is in line to eventually inherit the club's reins from the good doctor. That's what you call courting your way to the top.

What makes Jackson tick is his heart of stone--not that Zen mumbo-jumbo. Like him or not, he delivers the goods. He's cold-blooded. He's scheming. And he's a winner. The bottom line says it all. Jackson is now No. 1 on the all-time playoff list with 156 wins and has tied Red Auerbach with nine titles. Jackson piloted Chicago to a pair of threepeats and has just completed his first hattrick at L.A.

The Bulls wouldn't have won all those championships if Jackson didn't call the shots. Michael Jordan wouldn't have become the legend that he is if not for those six titles, thanks to Jackson. Shaq and Kobe wouldn't be the toast of the NBA today if not for the Zen Master.

Jackson has been lucky to assemble a responsive supporting cast for Shaq and Kobe. But how much more can Jackson squeeze out of Robert Horry, 31, Brian Shaw, 36, Mitch Richmond, 36, and Rick Fox, 32, for the Lakers to go four-ward?

Deaven George and Derek Fisher were impressive in the recent Finals. They're the Lakers most marketable commodities aside from Shaq and Kobe. Since Jackson isn't touching the untouchables, he might be forced to move George or Fisher or both to shore up.

Lindsey Hunter didn't play a single second in the Game 4 clincher over the Nets. That's an indication of Jackson's sagging confidence in the nine-year veteran from Jackson State. So he, too, may be on the way out.

Jackson knows that stagnancy is what will bring down the Lakers' dynasty. He's not afraid to bite the bullet. The only bullets he won't bite are Shaq and Kobe. Jackson didn't hesitate to eject Glenn Rice and Horace Grant from previous title squads so he's ready to do what is necessary to build for the future.

The Lakers were almost bowled over by the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals and that near nightmare will be on Jackson's mind when he evaluates his lineup for next season. You can bet a revamp is in the offing.

Shaq, 30, and Kobe, 23, can look ahead to more titles. The Big Aristotle says he'd like four more rings for his fingers. Why not make it seven more for each finger? Shaq can play until he's 40, health permitting, because in the NBA, centers enjoy a longer lifetime. That's because centers don't rely on quickness as much as the guards–their size makes all the difference. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, for instance, played until he was 42. Hakeem Olajuwon turns 40 next January. Bill Russell retired at 36 and Wilt Chamberlain, 37.

Kobe is just scratching the surface of his incredible potentials. If the glory doesn't get to his head, Kobe could go farther than any player in the NBA.

As for Scott, his consolation is he can claim part of the credit for the Awesome Twosome's formation. Scott was on his farewell season at L.A. when Shaq and Kobe signed up in 1996. Both Shaq and Kobe admit they learned a lot from Scott when they were teammates.

Scott, incidentally, coined the term "threepeat" although former Lakers coach Pat Riley had the business sense to form a licensing company, Riles & Co., to register the trademark in 1989. Riley earns a royalty fee when the term "threepeat" is used on merchandise such as T-shirts, caps, and jackets.

One more thing about Scott. Before turning pro in 1983, he played for Arizona State under coaches Ned Wulk and Paul Howard. The same Howard is now a consultant for the Philippine national team. He joined the squad in its recent Italy tour and arrived here Sunday to share his expertise in the Samsung Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup. Howard and coach Joseph Uichico's chief scout Binky Favis will check out China and Lebanon at the World Championships in Indianapolis this August.