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Coach Phil Jackson and General Manager Mitch Kupchak anticipate a different lineup with many of the same players. By Jonathan Abrams Los Angeles Times Staff Writer June 21, 2008 New season, new Lakers? The Lakers could feature a completely different makeup next season, Coach Phil Jackson said today. "If and when [Andrew Bynum] is back, which we anticipate, it will be a different team entirely," Jackson said. The shifting probably will involve players sliding into new roles, rather than a full-out hunt in the free-agent market this summer. It will include juggling a loaded frontcourt and Lamar Odom possibly moving from power forward to small forward. "It's a real issue," Jackson said. "We think we can do it. We think people will have to sacrifice." General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the team would be creative in its rotation next year, and one option was for Odom to play guard and Kobe Bryant to move up to small forward. "It could be the longest and biggest frontcourt in the NBA in many, many years," Kupchak said. "It is a team that would be very talented, very long and versatile, and I think training camp would be an important time to test out what [Jackson] has done during the summer." Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, Kupchak and Jackson will sit down in the next couple of days to assess the team's future. As for the Lakers losing in the NBA Finals to Boston in six games, Jackson said: "We were a Cinderella team, and we just couldn't put the slipper on," before adding: "I just think we weren't ready to assume that role." As for Bryant and Pau Gasol stretching their bodies to play in the Beijing Olympics this summer, Jackson admitted some concerns, but, "They're so gung-ho about it that I just have to allow them my blessing to play." Meanwhile, Kupchak's midseason trade for Gasol, in what many considered a heist, is largely credited with catapulting the Lakers into the Finals. Kupchak said today he expects to retain free agents Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf, but otherwise may show a faint interest in the free-agent market. Kupchak confirmed that the team's ownership would meet shortly to discuss possible off-season moves. "We're well over the cap; we're well over the luxury-cap threshold," he said. "I've looked at the free-agent list. We've ranked them ... but the bottom line is, it's not a very strong unrestricted group of free agents." Kupchak said Bryant appeared "chipper," when the pair met Thursday. "It was certainly different than last season's exit meeting," Kupchak said. Today was the last day of exit interviews for the Lakers at their El Segundo training facility. Here are some comments from players as they left the Lakers' complex: Derek Fisher The point guard rejoined the Lakers this season, falling just short of earning his fourth championship with the team. He said he was dealing with mixed emotions. "[I'm] disappointed we couldn't get it done, couldn't get it figured out," Fisher said. "But at the same time, proud of our accomplishment and proud to be a member of this team. "Just losing in the Finals is not a good feeling." Fisher said he doesn't anticipate major personnel changes with the team this summer and hopes that he is right. For any team, he said, there has to be an amount of mutual responsibility and accountability. "I think our group was willing to do that this year," he said. Andrew Bynum The young center got the Lakers started on their path to the NBA Finals before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in January. Bynum had hoped to return to action during the playoffs, but setbacks caused him to eventually undergo surgery instead. Now, the Lakers can dream of next season when Bynum will finally join Gasol in their long-anticipated frontcourt tandem. Bynum said he would resume training in two to three weeks and intended to work on his lateral quickness over the summer to handle plays such as the high-pick-and-rolls the Celtics tossed out at the Lakers. Bynum also is due a contract extension, but the Lakers probably will wait to see how his leg reacts to workouts this summer before approaching the issue. "That's for my agent to handle," he said. "We'll see what happens." Lamar Odom The season had hardly ended before rumblings of Odom being traded for a small forward better suited for the triangle offense started popping up. "It's crazy," Odom said after his exit interview today. "As soon as I walked into our meeting, Mitch [Kupchak] told me sorry about something that came up in the paper. It's been going on ever since I came here." But he also was adamant about where he wants to be. "This is where I want to end my career," he said. "As a Laker." Odom said he would work on his lateral quickness this summer in anticipation of shifting from power forward to small forward with the return of Bynum. Still, the devastating Game 6 loss in Boston will sting for a while. "I'm staying away from NBA TV right now," he said. "I can't stomach it right now. It's something that's going to stick with us for a minute."

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