A HALL OF A TEAM PAYTON IS IN, GIVING LAKERS 4 POTENTIAL HALL OF FAMERS; CHEMISTRY IS KEY.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

Mitch Kupchak was perched on a bench high above the Pyramid basketball court Sunday afternoon at Long Beach State when an excited Lakers fan slipped him pen and paper. Kupchak oblingingly scribbled his name.

The fan chuckled and pointed at the paper.

The Lakers' general manager, bemused, raised his reading glasses, glanced down and smiled. He had just planted his signature across an expertly doctored photocopy featuring - in full Lakers uniforms - Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton.

A team for the ages.

A fantasy, cooked up with PhotoShop and blind hope.

That was Sunday, when the vision of a Fab Four Hall of Fame lineup was just an idea. But by Tuesday afternoon, the fabricated photo looked more like a prophecy.

Payton announced Tuesday he will sign with the Lakers. Malone is expected to do the same, as soon as today.

Nothing can become official until next Wednesday, when the NBA's signing period begins. And technically, there's nothing to prevent anyone from changing their minds.

But the excitement surrounding the franchise was palpable. And Payton's comments Tuesday were unequivocal.

``You've got to be pumped up about playing Showtime ball,'' Payton told a TV station in Albuquerque, N.M., where he was visiting a basketball camp.

``Everybody's looking forward to us being together and, you know, they're a championship-caliber team. And anybody should be happy to play with Kobe and Shaq.''

The Lakers are prohibited by NBA rules from saying much until July 16. But Kupchak released a statement confirming his ``intention to enter into a contract with Gary Payton'' next week.

``It's a done deal,'' agent Aaron Goodwin said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon.

The Lakers fell from grace this season after a remarkable three-year championship run. Too thin, not talented or deep enough, they were dethroned by the San Antonio Spurs. Kupchak immediately set out to reinvigorate the lineup, and he is doing so in spectacular fashion.

Payton, who turns 35 in two weeks, is the best defensive point guard of his era and still is playing at his peak. Malone, who turns 40 in two weeks, is among the greatest power forwards ever and a two-time league MVP who remains in prime physical condition.

They have a combined 22 All-Star appearances between them but zero championships.

So each will accept a major pay cut to play for the Lakers, to complete an All-Star lineup around Bryant and O'Neal.

``It's a good opportunity for (Payton) to get the one piece of hardware he doesn't have, and that's a championship,'' Goodwin said.

Terms of Payton's contract are being negotiated. The Lakers will offer him their mid-level exception, about $4.6 million, for three to four years. Goodwin is holding out hope the Milwaukee Bucks can orchestrate a sign- and-trade deal that would net Payton more money, but the Lakers have nothing the Bucks want. If no trade can be arranged, Goodwin said Payton will take the mid-level exception.

Now the Lakers await final word from Malone.

A source told the Daily News on Monday that Malone was ``a done deal'' and that he would join the Lakers irrespective of Payton's decision. Agent Dwight Manley said Malone will announce his intentions within a day or two and insisted he has not yet made a decision.

Payton's announcement ``makes the Lakers situation much clearer, very attractive'' to Malone, Manley said. ``He's just got a few teams to weigh, and that's what we're doing right now.''

Utah, which can pay Malone the most money, is no longer in the mix, Manley said. Malone might consider a last-minute offer from the Spurs because his wife, Kay, is from San Antonio.

``His only thing he's weighing right now is where he can contribute the most to winning a ring,'' Manley said.

Malone has told the Lakers he would accept their $1.5 million exception in order to lure Payton with the larger exception. But Manley and Goodwin both downplayed the notion of a package deal.

``We were never tied to (Payton) or his decision,'' Manley said.

However, the two stars did confer with each other.

``Gary made his decision hoping that Karl would come,'' Goodwin said.

Malone will be taking an $18 million pay cut. Payton will be taking a cut of about $8 million.

Teams were allowed to open negotiations at 9 p.m. on June 30. Kupchak's first call was to Payton.

``When they wanted me and came after me it was an honor,'' Payton said. ``The money is nothing. I (got) my money, and I got everything and had a great life. And so the only thing I'm missing now in my basketball career is a championship, and I chose to go there to get a championship.''

The result is the most talent-laden Lakers lineup since 1998, when Bryant and O'Neal were flanked by All-Star guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel, as well as a younger Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Elden Campbell.

Historically, they'll have their best lineup since the Showtime era of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Michael Cooper and Byron Scott.

It's also a spectacular chemistry experiment, and a sharp deviation from the formula that brought the Lakers three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002. Rather than surround O'Neal and Bryant with willing role players, Kupchak has imported two more superstars, each known for being outspoken and strong-willed.

Both O'Neal and Bryant consider themselves friends of Payton, which will help. Malone, however, is more of a wild card, known for being emotional and unpredictable during his 18 years with the Jazz.

Neither one ever has had to defer to players the caliber of Bryant and O'Neal, who already stood as one of the greatest all-time tandems.

It all will pose an immense challenge for coach Phil Jackson, who privately had concerns about the strong personalities of both Payton and Malone. But it's a challenge he apparently welcomes.

Even as they won titles, the Lakers were perpetually looking to fill holes at power forward and guard. Now they have two of the best in the league.

Payton averaged 20.4 points and 8.3 assists last season playing for the Seattle SuperSonics and Bucks. Malone averaged 20.6 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Payton's arrival probably pushes Derek Fisher back to the bench. Alternatively, the Lakers could go with a Fisher-Payton backcourt and install Bryant as the small forward until Fox recovers from foot surgery.

The additions of Payton and Malone, at a combined cost of about $6.2 million, pushes the Lakers' payroll to more than $62 million next season, about $7 million above the luxury-tax threshold. They will have 12 players under contract and will try to sign one or two more players at minimum salaries.

--Also: Bryant will need up to three months to recover after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week in Vail, Colo. He is expected to be ready for training camp. Drs. Dick Steadman and Richard Hawkins removed scar tissue behind the patella tendon, smoothed out a rough area behind the kneecap and removed a ``loose body'' in the knee ...

Second-round draft pick Luke Walton signed a two-year contract worth about $734,000.

Howard Beck, [phone]

howard.beck(at)dailynews.com

ROSTER REVAMP

The Lakers' 2002-03 and projected 2003-04 rosters:

2002-03

Kobe Bryant, G

Derek Fisher, G

Rick Fox, F

Devean George, G-F

Robert Horry, F

Mark Madsen, F

Slava Medvedenko, F

Tracy Murray, G

Shaquille O'Neal, C

Jannero Pargo, G

Kareem Rush, G

Brian Shaw, G

Samaki Walker, F

2003-04

Kobe Bryant, G

Brian Cook, F

Derek Fisher, G

Rick Fox, F

Devean George, G-F

Karl Malone, F

Slava Medvedenko, F

Shaquille O'Neal, C

Jannero Pargo, G

Gary Payton, G

Kareem Rush, G

Luke Walton, F

The Lakers are expected to add as many as two more free agents.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- 4 -- color) The combination of (clockwise, from top left) Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant starting for the Lakers this coming fall could be completed by today.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News and Associated Press

Box:

(1) NEW AND IMPROVED

(2) ROSTER REVAMP (see text)