Lakers Trade Benjamin to True Believer : Basketball: He is dealt to Nets for Bowie and draft choice and will be reunited with college coach, Willis Reed.

There aren’t many NBA executives who still believe that Benoit Benjamin’s potential outweighs his unremarkable play. But the Lakers found one Monday who was willing to take Benjamin off their hands--and their payroll.

In a deal that reunites Benjamin with his college coach, Willis Reed, the Lakers traded the 7-foot center to New Jersey for center Sam Bowie and a second-round draft pick in 1994. Reed, the Nets’ general manager, recruited Benjamin and coached him at Creighton University.

“He obviously has had a big interest in Benoit, and I talked with them a number of times during the playoffs and before making this deal,” Laker General Manager Jerry West said. “Willis Reed having coached him in college is a big plus for Benoit. He looked to me like he had lost his confidence.”

Benjamin, 28, has three years left on a five-year, $17.5-million contract. He was sent to the Lakers by Seattle on Feb. 22, with the rights to Doug Christie, for Sam Perkins. Benjamin averaged 4.5 points in 28 games with the Lakers and 5.7 points overall in 59 games. He has lifetime averages of 12.6 points, eight rebounds and 2.4 blocks and a label of being unmotivated.

“Definitely, he has not reached his potential,” Reed said. “Now, he probably understands the pro game a little better. I coached him for three years. I never had any difficulties with him. I don’t know anything about all this bad reputation.”

Bowie, 32, will earn $3.2 million in each of the two years remaining on his contract. He played a career-high 79 games for the Nets last season and averaged 9.1 points and seven rebounds. His lifetime averages are 12 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.

In Bowie, the former Kentucky star who was picked second by Portland in the 1984 draft--ahead of Michael Jordan--the Lakers get a solid high-post player with good passing and outside shooting ability. They also get insurance against losing free agent A.C. Green and future maneuvering room under the salary cap.

“Sam is versatile,” West said. “He shoots the ball very well from outside, and he will block some shots. He can play forward, too. We can put him out there with Vlade (Divac) or James Edwards, or we can flip-flop and put one of those two on a forward and Sam on a center.”

The Nets will be Benjamin’s fourth team in four seasons. The third pick in the 1985 draft, Benjamin spent his first 5 1/2 seasons with the Clippers, then was traded to Seattle in February, 1991.

Bowie said he had no bitterness toward the Nets, despite reports they believed he wasn’t physical enough.

“That was the word through the media, but Coach (Chuck) Daly said that wasn’t a problem at all,” Bowie said from his home in Lexington, Ky. “From what I understand, he had very little say in this deal. . . . I talked to Jerry West, and he said they’re extremely excited about the trade, and so am I.”

West also said he’s optimistic about re-signing Green, who will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and added that a return by guard Byron Scott, also an unrestricted free agent, is possible.

“Obviously, A.C. wants to go out and see what’s available,” West said. “We’re hopeful we can sign him, and I think he wants to come back. . . . (In Scott’s case) an awful lot of what we do will be based upon what we do in the draft. If we take a guard, maybe we’ll make another trade and maybe there would be a place for him.”