The Search Is On for a Third Option

SAN DIEGO â€”  Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom will get their points, but the audition remains open for the Lakers’ No. 3 scorer.

Caron Butler? Chucky Atkins? Brian Grant?

Bryant and Odom will get most of the plays sent their way, but it doesn’t guarantee a shot for one of them. Bryant will face plenty of double-teams and Odom, playing for his third team in as many seasons, will need time to adjust to yet another offensive scheme.

Somebody at some time will have to become another reliable scorer.

“We’re going to have some games where guys double-team Kobe all over the place and moving the ball around, getting it to the other guys, that’s going to decide the game,� Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.

Butler, in his third NBA season, is the best candidate. He has been an impact player at training camp, slashing to the basket or hitting mid-range jumpers. Atkins will get plenty of open looks, many from beyond the arc. Grant, though slowed by tendinitis in his knees in recent seasons, has averaged 11.4 points in his career.

The need for multiple scorers isn’t lost on Tomjanovich, who surrounded Hakeem Olajuwon with a deep supporting cast for championship runs with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.

“Most of the time, the big shots are from a role player -- a [Steve] Kerr, a [John] Paxson, Sam Cassell made a big shot when we were in the Finals when they double-teamed Hakeem,� Tomjanovich said. “Robert Horry, Mario Elie in the corner. That’s just what it comes down to. They’re not going to let you win with your No. 1 option, they’re going to try to close it off.�

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Center Chris Mihm, acquired from Boston in the Gary Payton trade, has been sturdy defensively while Vlade Divac continues to miss time because of a sore back. Mihm had six blocked shots in the exhibition opener Tuesday against Seattle.

“I was in the car coming over here, I was just saying, I’m glad we got Chris Mihm,� Tomjanovich said before Wednesday’s practice. “His energy and his defensive game was superb. He erased a lot of layups right there. He plays like that, we’re going to be all right.�

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Tomjanovich said Bryant was a post-game presence after Tuesday’s 87-80 loss to Seattle: “I did my spiel with the basketball Xs and O’s. He addressed the team and said ‘You know, some of you guys have got your head down. This is a process. We know that we worked hard.’ �