After Opening Tip, Jackson on a Fastbreak

Lunch with the man who just agreed to pay you $30 million, dinner with Hollywood heavy hitters in support of the man you want elected the next president of the United States.

And so continues this unique, rambling Lakers-Phil Jackson victory tour, an unlikely blend of high finance, showtime and high-power politics.

A day after his formal hiring and rock ‘n’ roll-style news conference introduction as Laker coach, Jackson took a ride with team executives Jerry West and Mitch Kupchak to the Staples Center and new El Segundo practice facility construction sites, had lunch with owner Jerry Buss, then finished up his basketball duties by watching the workouts of a couple of prospects.

Later, Jackson got back to the campaign trail for his friend, former Sen. Bill Bradley, and a major fund-raising dinner Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton.

Jackson is scheduled to return to his home in Montana this morning, and probably will return to L.A. a few days before the June 30 draft, said his agent, Todd Musburger.

Jackson apparently did not meet or hold serious talks Thursday with any of the holdover Laker assistant coaches, though interim coach Kurt Rambis, Larry Drew and Bill Bertka all are scheduled to speak to him soon.

Bertka and Drew were on hand with Jackson for the workouts at L.A. Southwest College of former USC player Stais Boseman and Minnesota draft prospect Quincy Lewis, both guards. Longer discussions with Jackson are planned for both assistants, a Laker spokesman said.

The Lakers have assured Rambis that he will be offered a job with the team in some capacity.

Currently, the Lakers hold the 23rd pick in the first round, and West has suggested that Jackson’s “triangle offense,” which does not demand a single, ball-controlling point guard, would influence the Lakers’ approach.

Recently, the Lakers had been taking a hard look at moving up in the draft, possibly all the way to No. 2, to guarantee they could select a pure point guard.

“When people talk about point guards, when one of them gets hurt, the coaches go into the hospital for two weeks because they’re lost,” West said.

“In [Jackson’s] offense, you can have the center bring the ball up the court, initiate the offense. We’ve talked about some things already about maybe how he’d use different people.

“And it’s nice to hear--this guy, he doesn’t worry about what they can’t do, he worries about what they can do.”

*

In the 48 hours after the Lakers announced the signing of Jackson, the Staples Center experienced a big rush for luxury suites and season tickets.

The downtown venue, scheduled to open in mid-October, sold four luxury suites, which range from $197,000 to $300,000 a season, and 60 Premier seats, which start at $12,800 and include all Laker, Clipper and King games. About 75% of the 2,500 Premier seats and all but 14 of the 160 suites have been sold.

Staff Writer David Wharton contributed to this story.