Walker, Richmond Top Laker List

Balancing three-peat expectations with payroll restrictions, the Lakers are browsing the free-agent market for big forwards and guards, Samaki Walker and Mitch Richmond chief among them.

While Horace Grant mulls interest from the Orlando Magic, among others, and Ty Lue and the Washington Wizards prepare to exchange figures, the Lakers could have Walker and Richmond in for visits by July 18, when free agents may be signed.

Many NBA general managers, including the Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak, are waiting for the splashy free agents to land. Chris Webber, Antonio Davis, Dikembe Mutombo, Allan Houston and Michael Finley are good players, but heavy on the payroll.

Kupchak has been in contact with about a dozen players, he said, but would not identify them. It is known, however, that the club wants Walker and Richmond, Walker to solve depth problems at center and power forward, and Richmond for the backcourt.

Besides the Lakers, Richmond is believed to be considering the Dallas Mavericks, where he would be reunited with Don Nelson, his coach at Golden State. Richmond apparently is available for the $1-million veteran minimum or the $1.3-million cap exception after having next season’s contract with the Wizards bought out for $10 million. He played in a career-low 37 games last season after suffering minor injuries to both knees, but the Lakers believe he is sound.

Richmond, by most accounts still a capable shooter and defender, is able to play some small forward, which would allow the Lakers to put another shooter on the floor against what they suspect will be many zone defenses.

Still of concern is the luxury tax threshold, which many clubs believe will come in at $54.3 million. The Lakers, who probably won’t spend past that ceiling, have 10 players under contract for $51.8 million.

Teams appear to be waving only the $1.3-million exception at Grant, who turned 36 Wednesday.

He is scheduled to have dinner Sunday night with Magic Coach Doc Rivers. He hasn’t ruled out the Lakers and said his agent, Jimmy Sexton, and the club continue to talk, but Grant made Orlando sound more attractive. He has a home in Orlando, where he played five seasons before being traded to Seattle.

“I’d love to come back and play here again,” Grant said from Orlando. “I still love this city. It would be a perfect fit.”

Grant also has heard from Milwaukee and Sacramento, the Kings probably in the event they lose Webber to another club.

Isaiah “J.R.” Rider, who offered to play on the Lakers’ summer league team in Long Beach and was granted the opportunity, did not attend team practices Thursday or Friday at the Laker training facility in El Segundo.

Rider told his agent he was tending to personal business, and Kupchak continued to allow for the possibility Rider has not played his final game as a Laker.

“There’s a possibility he’d come in over the weekend,” Kupchak said.

The Lakers, featuring roster players Slava Medvedenko and Devean George, and Mike Penberthy, begin their eight-game schedule tonight at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

The team is coached by assistant Jim Cleamons.

With Phil Jackson’s blessing, Mark Madsen has hired shooting coach Chip Engelland, best known for his work with Orlando’s Grant Hill.

Madsen, who had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist, said this week he would begin exercising Monday, running sometime next week and then would begin a shooting regimen, even with his left hand in a cast. Madsen is right-handed.

Madsen is expected to play more meaningful minutes in his second season, particularly if Grant does not return. Doctors said Madsen could require four to five months to heal.