Divac Out for at Least Six Weeks

For anyone wondering what else could go wrong for the Lakers, they just lost Vlade Divac for at least six weeks.

Divac underwent surgery for a herniated disk Wednesday at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. Dr. William Dillin said the one-hour operation went well, and Divac would begin rehabilitation in two weeks.

“I was afraid of that,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said after hearing that the operation was necessary.

What do they do now?

“I don’t know,” Dunleavy said. “Just play it the way we’ve been playing. It’ll give some guys opportunities to really improve their games.”

Elden Campbell, averaging seven points and seven rebounds a game, has started the last 11 games at center, backed up by Sam Perkins and Jack Haley.

Laker options for replacing Divac are few. They can use the $1.25 million they got back from Magic Johnson’s salary for an established big man who is available, such as the Celtics’ Joe Kleine, or they can get an even less accomplished player from the Continental Basketball Assn.

General Manager Jerry West could not be reached for comment.

Other Laker officials are leaning toward bringing in a player from the CBA, rather than squander the $1.25 million on a stopgap player who might be cut in March.

“We need to look around and make that kind of decision,” Dunleavy said. “It might be one of those things where you bring a bunch of players in and out until you find a guy who looks like he can play in the NBA.”

Laker players took the news stoically, although a sigh of despair escaped here and there.

“It’s like, here we go again,” Perkins said.

James Worthy said: “It’s not even close to the first encounter (Magic Johnson’s retirement) we had to face, but to continue to lose key players like that--I think it’s going to make us stronger.

“I really didn’t know (Divac’s back) was that serious. I do know that in the San Antonio game (Divac’s last appearance, last Friday), he was in a lot of pain, extreme pain.

“It’s just unfortunate. We were really looking forward to him coming back to the team. . . . It’s just another blow.

“There are always ways to make it up. We just have to do it the hard way.”