Seriously Though: Lakers’ West Isn’t Going East to 76ers

Laker officials Tuesday night labeled a report in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer that Jerry West showed interest in overtures from the 76ers as a misunderstanding, with West saying he will never work for another team.

“I did have a conversation with Pat Croce, but I will not comment on what was discussed,” West, the Laker executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the past 15 years, told The Times. “I will say that I am perfectly happy in Los Angeles and that I plan on ending my career with the Lakers.”

Croce, the 76ers’ president, told Bill Lyon of the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier Tuesday that he called West recently to ask permission to contact Mitch Kupchak, the Laker general manager, about filling that role with the 76ers.

In the course of the conversation with West, Croce said he sensed some unhappiness on West’s part, prompting him to ask bluntly if West was interested in joining the 76ers.

“You’ll have to talk to my owner,” the Inquirer quoted Croce as West’s response.

Croce told the Inquirer that he called Laker owner Jerry Buss immediately and was denied permission by Buss.

Croce’s interest in Kupchak also apparently hit a dead end. “That’s not going to happen,” Croce told the Inquirer regarding Kupchak.

One source told The Times that if in fact Croce asked West if he was interested, West did not take the question seriously.

Added Laker spokesman John Black: “I don’t want to try to interpret how Pat Croce understood the conversation, but if he thought Jerry was interested, that was a misunderstanding on Pat’s part. Jerry has no interest in leaving the Lakers.”