Jackson might stick around

EL SEGUNDO - The Lakers’ future has carried a National Weather Service advisory of near-zero visibility for some time now. On Saturday, though, Phil Jackson suggested that even if the current tempest ends without Kobe Bryant in a Lakers uniform, Jackson would still be around to steer the Lakers ship.

Jackson said in clear terms Saturday for the first time that his Lakers coaching future is not tied to Bryant’s playing future. Health permitting, Jackson is willing to extend his expiring contract even if Bryant — whom Jackson has said countless times he came back to coach in 2005 — is traded.

Asked if he is OK with a future as Lakers coach without Bryant, Jackson nodded and said: “Yeah.” Then Jackson, smiling, added that the prerequisite of Bryant being a Laker is “not part of my job description.”

Jackson, 62, said he’s gauging his health and energy before committing to what is expected to be a two-year, $20 million extension, adding: “It’s not about whether I can produce a championship or a record.”

Despite saying “it’s not fire-sale time,” Jackson also had a more immediate horn to sound Saturday regarding Bryant: Jackson does not believe Bryant has fulfilled a pre-training-camp promise to be fully on board as a team member.

Jackson said Bryant “obviously hasn’t thrown his heart and soul” into the Lakers so far. Jackson said Bryant was struggling “mentally getting himself here and playing hard.” Jackson said Bryant’s limited effort has left teammates “a little bit confused.” Jackson suggested everyone should be drawing the same conclusions, saying: “I’m not breaking any news.”

“It was my feeling from a conversation with Kobe that he was going to work at this thing and put his full being into this,” Jackson said. “Right now he’s having a hard time doing that. That’s why I said it’s a matter of question here as to where we can go and how we can finish.”

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