BUSS MEETS WITH JACKSON RETURN NOT DISCUSSED.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

Lakers owner Jerry Buss revealed that he had dinner Wednesday with Phil Jackson, back in Los Angeles after a six-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, but did not broach the subject of Jackson returning to his old job as Lakers coach.

``I had dinner with Phil the day before yesterday, but we did not discuss basketball,'' Buss said in a Friday afternoon appearance on ESPNews. ``Phil and I are good friends - of course, he dates my daughter, as you well know - and we have a lot of conversations.

``We haven't addressed the basketball issue yet, but perhaps we will.''

Even without specifics, those words were enough to cause a minor stir. Lakers spokesman John Black said the team would not begin interviewing candidates for its coaching vacancy until after the season. Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, could not be reached for comment.

Buss, meanwhile, made it clear that Jackson was a viable candidate for the Lakers job and said he believed the former coach and Kobe Bryant could co-exist even after Jackson wrote about trying to have Bryant traded in his best-selling diary of the 2003-04 season.

``I think the air has been cleared,'' Buss said. ``I think Kobe would welcome back Phil. Kobe's main desire is to win a championship, to play basketball and win, win, win. And he knows his chances with Phil are increased substantially.

``As far as Phil's concerned, I think he cleared the air with his book. I think they're both prepared to get back together, if that's what turns out to be.''

Buss, who was in Las Vegas for a poker tournament, called Jackson ``probably the best coach available. He may well want to come back, but I'm just speculating because I have not asked him that question.''

It was less than nine months ago that Buss decided to part ways with Jackson after the Lakers lost in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons. If there were any strains between the men, they were not apparent in Buss' interview Friday.

Jackson had been back in the United States four days before meeting with Buss. He also stopped by the Lakers practice facility Monday and has seen his former team re-install the triangle offense Jackson made famous during his five seasons as coach.

--Over and out: In his first public comments since Rudy Tomjanovich resigned as coach Feb. 2, Buss expressed ``tremendous relief'' that Bryant had settled the civil case brought by his Colorado accuser, and he said of the Shaquille O'Neal trade: ``If we had it over to do today, we would do exactly the same thing.''

Buss said of O'Neal, who has led the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference's best record: ``I'm just very happy for him. I'd like to see him get a couple of more rings.'' Buss repeated that he had to trade O'Neal when the franchise center was at maximum value.

For the first time, Buss referred to the Lakers as ``rebuilding,'' but he said he was confident the pieces were in place for the future in Bryant, Lamar Odom and Caron Butler.

``We feel we have the nucleus of a very good team,'' Buss said, ``and come free-agent time, in a year or two, we feel we'll fill in our roster and be a contender again.''

Buss also said he was happy to see Bryant reach a civil settlement. The criminal sexual-assault case against Bryant was dropped Sept. 1.

``I really feel sorry for him,'' Buss said. ``What he's been carrying around with him for a couple of years, it would have just buried most people. He's obviously an extremely strong individual.''

--Ankle OK: Interim coach Frank Hamblen said he thought Bryant's injured right ankle was feeling better. ``I think he's OK,'' Hamblen said. ``Having part of the day off (Thursday) helped him.'' Bryant complained about tightness in the ankle during the fourth quarter Wednesday.

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