If He’s Wanted, Scott Will Return

Byron Scott all but said he will return in 1997-98 for a 15th NBA season, but with a disclaimer.

Either he’ll play as a Laker or he won’t play at all.

“I want to retire here,� Scott said Thursday of Los Angeles, his home while growing up and for 11 of his 14 years as a professional. “So if they say they don’t want me next season as a player, or if it’s ‘We want you to come work with us in the front office,’ so be it.�

He has yet to have any discussions with management regarding his future. He hasn’t really had them with anybody, so Scott cannot say definitively he will play again, a final decision that won’t come until he has a chance to step back, rest and reflect in the off-season. He can say, however, that it would take a drastic change of heart from how he’s feeling now to retire.

“I don’t think it’ll change,� said Scott, a month shy of his 36th birthday.

Not about playing again, or about playing again only for the Lakers.

“Pretty much,� he said. “That’s pretty much how I feel. I started my career here and I’ve got the opportunity to end it here.�

Scott’s comments come as he has reassumed the role as backup shooting guard, a job he took from Kobe Bryant by going 59.4% from the field, including 50% on three-pointers, the last seven games.

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Coach Del Harris met Thursday afternoon with Bill Pollack, the Washington-based agent for free agent-to-be George McCloud, but it was more of a lunch between friends than a business meeting. Harris, however, did make it clear that he would like McCloud, acquired last week from the Nets, to remain a Laker.

“We didn’t give away a first and a second for a couple months,� Harris said later. “We believe in the guy.�

Which works out well since McCloud, despite having been part of the organization for just eight days, has already decided he would like to stay.

“Any time you’re in a situation like this, when you have the chance to be very successful for a long time, as a player you want to be part of that,� he said.