Phil Jackson criticizes Lakers for not keeping promise

The Los Angeles Lakers begin training camp in Hawaii in about three weeks, essentially bringing back the same team that went 42-40 last season and lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the second straight season.

Outside of the draft, they have done little to improve the team, leaving Coach Phil Jackson to join his petulant star, Kobe Bryant, in casting stones at the Los Angeles Lakers' management.

While doing a round of interviews this week in advance of his Friday enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Jackson took a shot at Jim Buss, the owner's son who is vice president of player personnel, for not keeping his promise.

Jackson told KLAC's Petros Papadakis and Matt Smith that "We were promised by Jimmy Buss that we'd have big changes...

"And we've yet to see that. We still are looking for that big boost in our team. We hope we still have one more (move) in us to include a player that really can play a role ... someone that's a supportive scorer, can play defense and do things that are good out there on the floor to help us win."

The Los Angeles Lakers were rebuffed in their quest to acquire Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were unwilling to take Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum in return. The Indiana Pacers wanted to trade six-time All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal for Odom and Andrew Bynum, but the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to send Andrew Bynum, Brian Cook and Kwame Brown. The Pacers refused, and the teams remain at a stalemate.

The Los Angeles Lakers brought back veteran point guard Derek Fisher and center Chris Mihm, who missed all of last season recovering from two right ankle surgeries. With their first-round pick they drafted guard Javaris Crittenton, who played just one year at Georgia Tech.

It remains to be seen whether or not that is enough to placate Kobe Bryant, who went on a rant demanding a trade earlier this summer, and Jackson, who's in the final year of his contract.

Kobe Bryant was quiet on the subject while playing for the U.S. in the recent Olympic qualifying tournament, refusing to answer questions about showing up for training camp.

"I don't see any reason why Kobe wouldn't be there on Oct. 1," Jackson told The Press-Enterprise in a recent interview. "He made a statement. We understand where he's at. He's a dedicated basketball player and he's always been so, and I don't see why he would jeopardize that reputation by not being there."

Jackson, 61, still is dealing with health issues that may keep him from signing the contract extension that the Los Angeles Lakers have offered. Jackson had his left hip replaced in June and still is walking with a cane. He had the other hip replaced last October, and his recovery from this procedure has been slower.

"My health would be a big part of it," Jackson said of coaching past this season. "But if I'm not successful with this team, I don't see any reason why I should coach. It's not worth the pain."

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