Notes

The Los Angeles Lakers got a brief chance to revel in their past glory when coach Phil Jackson was enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 8. Jackson coached the Los Angeles Lakers to NBA championships in 2000, '01 and '02 — and has nine titles to his credit as a coach, tying Red Auerbach for most in league history.

"The success of the teams I've coached is just phenomenal," Jackson said. "I've heard people say that I'm the luckiest coach that's ever been in the NBA, and I'd probably have to agree with them. I've been in the right spots in the right times in that regard."

Jackson was inducted in the same 2007 class as University of North Carolina coach Roy Williams, whom the Los Angeles Lakers tried to lure — along with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski — to replace Jackson in 2004. The Los Angeles Lakers eventually hired Rudy Tomjanovich, but Jackson returned after Tomjanovich stepped down less than one season into his tenure.

The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to win a playoff series since Jackson wasn't initially retained by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. There was some thought that this would be a whirlwind summer regarding roster upgrades — at the behest of star Kobe Bryant and Jackson — but guard Derek Fisher's return was the most exciting news of the summer.

Jackson has said that he'd still like the see the Los Angeles Lakers make another move to help Kobe Bryant — indicating that he wasn't opposed to seeing the Los Angeles Lakers give up Andrew Bynum's potential in a trade.

Jackson was still using a cane at his enshrinement after recent hip-replacement surgery. He said he is waiting to see how well he recovers before he decides whether to sign a contract extension beyond the coming season.

NOTES, QUOTES

—In a poll on the USA Basketball Web site with nearly 4,000 votes, Kobe Bryant (30 percent) was second to Carmelo Anthony (32 percent) — and just ahead of LeBron James (26 percent) — as USA MVP for the FIBA Americas Tournament.

—The Los Angeles Lakers will have training camp in Honolulu this year; it is their tradition to stage camp there every other year.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Yes, it was... and more." — Kobe Bryant, in response to whether his undefeated summer with USA Basketball was all he'd hoped.

ROSTER REPORT

DRAFT PICKS:

—Javaris Crittenton, 6-5, point guard, Georgia Tech. Drafted 19th overall, the Los Angeles Lakers didn't necessarily want another young guard, but thought the top 2006 prep point guard was too good to pass up as a developmental project.

—Sun Yue, 6-8, small forward, China. With the No. 40 pick acquired a year ago from Charlotte for Jumaine Jones, the Los Angeles Lakers took a shot at a talented Boris Diaw-type whom they saw frequently while Sun played in Southern California in the ABA.

—Marc Gasol, 7-1, center, Spain. Brother of Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Pau Gasol, Marc is a bulkier, less skilled player whom the Los Angeles Lakers might let play for Real Madrid and wait a year to bring to the NBA after picking him 48th overall.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Los Angeles Lakers re-signed Luke Walton, which was their top priority, and agreed to terms with Derek Fisher to give them a more dependable ball-handling guard. The Los Angeles Lakers also re-signed center Chris Mihm, who missed all of last season with an ankle injury, to offer depth behind green Andrew Bynum and injury-prone Kwame Brown.

PLAYER NOTES:

—G Derek Fisher will face his former Utah teammates for the first time in the exhibition season when the Los Angeles Lakers play the Jazz on Oct. 23 in Anaheim — with another matchup two days later in San Diego.

—F Ronny Turiaf played for France in Eurobasket 2007 in Spain and was used for limited minutes.

—G Javaris Crittenton, the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 1 pick, will wear jersey No. 1 — which was worn by Smush Parker the past two seasons.

[More at www.usatoday.com]