말론: 레이커스 복귀 아니면 은퇴

<STYLE>P{margin-top:2px;margin-bottom:2px;}</STYLE> Visit by Malone stirs speculation ladailynews.com By Ross Siler Staff Writer     예정된 시간보다 한 시간 늦게 말론은 토요일 오후 레이커스 트레이닝 캠프를 방문했다.     그의 어린 아들과 함께 센디에고 대학에 레이커스 연습시간이 10여분정도 남았을 때 도착했 다. 그의 방문은 예정되어 있었지만 선수들은 그를 반갑게 맞았고, 구단주인 제리 버스는 코 트 옆에서 그와 함께 앉았다.   레이커스 단장인 미치컵책은 그가 아직 선수로 뛸 준비가 되어 있지 않다고 말했다. 10일 전 말론은 구단주인 버스와 만나서  레이커스를 제외한 어떤 팀에서도 선수생활을 할 마 음이 없으며 6월 부상을 당한 오른쪽 무릎 수술 때문에 아직 몸상태가 완전치 않다고 밝혔다. 10월 1일 말론의 에이전트인 드와이트 맨리는 말론이 12월이 되어야 몸상태가 완전 할 것이라고 말했다. 현재 레이커스는 말론이 팀에 합류할수 없을지도 모른다는 가정하에 연 습을 하고 있다.   말론은 연습하는 곳을 방문해서 디박의 등을 두드리며 안부를 물었고, 조지와는 하이 파이브를 하였으며 어시스턴트 코치인 햄블렌과는 포옹을 하였다. 연습이 모두 끝났 을 때 그는 코비 브라이언트와 앉아서 이야기를 나누었다. 러쉬는 말론의 복귀를 기 대하면서 과거 브라이언쇼처럼 경기장에서 플레이하였으면 좋겠다고 말했다. 톰자노 비치 코치는 말론의 복귀를 기대하지만 그것의 선택은 말론의 문제라며 그의 선택을 존중한다고 말했다. 디박은 말론과 함께 플레이를 하는 것은 정말로 멋진 경험이 될 것이지만 과연 그가 돌아올지는 좀 더 지켜봐야 할 것 같다고 말했다.        SAN DIEGO -- The delivery time was about an hour later than expected, but the simple fact that the Mailman stopped by Lakers training camp Saturday afternoon was enough to create a minor stir. With his young son in tow, Karl Malone arrived at the University of San Diego with 10 minutes left in practice -- looking ready by everyone's standards but his own, apparently -- to play a 20th NBA season. Malone's visit had been scheduled, and the Lakers players were informed he would be there before practice. But his presence was enough to turn heads in the gym and bring owner Jerry Buss down from the stands to sit with Malone at courtside. "I told him, 'Go over there and pick up a baggie and get dressed,' and he said, 'I'm not in basketball shape right now,' " Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "I don't know what that means. For him, he may not think he's in great shape, but I don't know, he looks pretty good to me." Only 10 days ago, Malone met with Buss and informed him that he would not play for a team other than the Lakers but also was not ready to play this season because he is still recovering from surgery in June on his right knee. As Malone worked his way around the floor, he told former teammates and members of the Lakers staff that he felt good. Malone has not officially retired, and agent Dwight Manley said Oct. 1 that Malone should be fully healthy in December. Malone, who turned 41 in July, declined to comment other than saying, "I ain't doing nothing. Talk to the guys that are doing something." There will be no shortage of speculation as to what Malone's visit signified. The Lakers are proceeding under the assumption Malone will not play this season, and Kupchak cautioned against reading too much into things. "It's not really a sign one way or the other," said Kupchak, who joked that Malone was an hour late due to a faulty navigation system.     "We expected him to come today. A week or two ago, Jerry and he met, and they kind of talked about coming to practice today, Saturday. So we expected it. It's just a visit.   It's not a bad sign, but I wouldn't say it's an indication of anything." Malone tapped Vlade Divac on the back to say hello, high-fived Devean George and hugged assistant coach Frank Hamblen. As the Lakers ended practice, he took a seat next to Kobe Bryant, his Orange County neighbor. Kupchak did not know whether Malone will be a recurring presence at Lakers practices. Malone said he probably would be back. "I don't know," Kupchak said. "He's welcome. My guess is we might not see him much. It's to be a one-day visit, and that's all we expect." Added Kareem Rush: "I think he knows how much we want him back. But that's sort of his personal decision. Hopefully, he can just be around us and be around the team all year like (Brian Shaw)." After saying he would roll out the red carpet should Malone elect to play this season, Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich said he had not reached the stage to start talking terminology with Malone. Tomjanovich also was asked how he can avoid treating Malone like the Lakers' potential white knight. The Lakers had penciled in Malone to be their starting power forward and have only five true frontcourt players. "I'm respecting his decision, so his decision is that he's not doing anything right now," Tomjanovich said. "So I'm not going to even get into that wishful thinking and all that because that'd be something that'd just be grinding and grinding all the time. "So for the mental health of the team right now, just go as if it isn't going to happen. Then you're not disappointed if he decides to go on with his life." Whether Malone is in fact finished as a player will be a subject of much conversation in the coming weeks. "I would be the happiest man to see him get back because to have the opportunity to play alongside a man like him is just a tremendous experience," Divac said. "But that's not a sign. He just came by to see old friends and say hi."