Lakers Could Lose Knight to Free Agency

The Lakers on Thursday were confronted with the serious possibility of losing Travis Knight to free agency, which seemed unlikely only 72 hours earlier.

Knight has a series of offers that surprises even him.

Coming off a rookie season in which he developed into a key contributor, Knight had said he probably would stay with the Lakers, even though they were limited by the salary cap to a contract offer of about $325,000 for 1997-98. Knight said that, even if other clubs dangled a $1-million deal--or $2.15 million over two seasons--it wouldn’t budge him.

But he’s considering it, because three unknown teams, bidding for a big man with potential, have apparently made offers of seven-year packages--the maximum allowable--worth at least $2 million per season.

“I think,” agent Arn Tellem said, “we’re getting offers that may make this decision a close call.”

The Lakers had braced for as much. They can either stave off this threat to frontcourt depth that would leave them without a power forward to back up Elden Campbell, or they can learn as early as today that Knight is leaving.

Some resolution is expected by early next week.

“Whether he does it or not, I don’t know,” Tellem said. “But he has to think about those kinds of offers.”

The Lakers have to think about alternatives, while also trying to add a shooting guard or small forward with range, particularly if Byron Scott leaves to play in Greece.

That’s why they have shown interest in free agents Rick Fox and Hubert Davis.

Unless the market dries up, Fox will not play for $1 million in 1997-98; not after opting out of the final three years of his contract with the Boston Celtics, worth approximately $5.4 million.

Davis, a member of the Toronto Raptors last season, would play for $1 million and lists the Lakers among four teams he would most like to join.

Two second-round draft choices, taken last week, also could address both possible needs.

Louisville’s DeJuan Wheat is a point guard but showed three-point capabilities in college. Paul Rogers played center at Gonzaga but is projected as a power forward in the NBA.