A Non-Playoff Finish Could Become Worse There may not be a silver lining for the Lakers if they don't make the playoffs. They could miss out on the postseason for the second consecutive season and still not have a draft lottery pick. As part of a five-player trade in August 2004, the Lakers sent a first-round pick to Boston that was lottery-protected last season, meaning the Lakers, because their choice was a lottery choice, got to keep it and draft 17-year-old Andrew Bynum. But they lose the pick this year unless it is among the draft's top 11. There are 14 picks overall in the lottery. -- Los Angeles Times L.A. Sends Wafer To Fort Worth The Lakers assigned rookie guard Von Wafer on Monday to the NBA Development League's Fort Worth (Texas) Flyers, the first time the team has taken advantage of the NBA's new minor-league system. ... "As long as he's in shape and ready to play, which I'm sure he is, we'll get him on the court," Fort Worth coach Sam Vincent said. "We'll give him a crash course on our sets and see how he fits in." Vincent said he talked with Lakers coach Phil Jackson, assured him that Wafer would get playing time with the Flyers, who had Portland's Martell Webster play with them earlier this season. -- Los Angeles Daily News
