LAKERS: WISHING FOR A SHOOTING STAR LAKERS HOPE RADMANOVIC CAN BE A FORCE FROM THE PERIMETER.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- For a moment Wednesday afternoon, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak tried to put himself in the place of a Western Conference coach, when describing how a team would attempt to match up on defense with Vladimir Radmanovic on the court.

``You have to guard Vlade,'' Kupchak said. ``He might miss three or four in a row, but I'm telling you right now, the coach on the opposing team is not going to say, `Leave him open and double-team Kobe.'

``They're going to say, `Don't leave him open. I know he's missed four in a row. Don't worry about it. He can make four in a row.' He's got to be guarded, and that makes it easier, whether he's making shots or not, for the other guys on our team.''

At the same time, Kupchak went out of his way to portray Radmanovic, a career 38.1 percent 3-point shooter and the Lakers' big free-agent acquisition of the summer, as more than just a player good from 24 feet and beyond.

``We don't look at Vlade as a shooter,'' Kupchak said, ``and I hope he doesn't look at himself as just a shooter, either.''

The Lakers officially signed Radmanovic to a five-year, $30.2 million contract after agreeing to the deal July 1, the first day of the league's free-agent negotiating period.

They also signed Shammond Williams, who has played the past two seasons overseas, to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, using their bi-annual exception.

The 31-year-old guard will fill a need for an experienced ballhandler.

Williams played last season in Spain and before that in Russia. He has career averages of 6.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in six NBA seasons with six teams.

Radmanovic, meanwhile, turned down a six-year, $42 million extension with Seattle before last season and played on a one-year qualifying offer. He was traded to the Clippers in February and was a key player in the second half of the season and playoffs.

With the Clippers also offering him a maximum contract for the mid-level exception, Radmanovic said the Lakers did a better job of defining his future role.

``The Lakers were more specific with what they want from me and how I'm going to fit in the team,'' Radmanovic said. ``That was the major thing. I never spoke about money, basically. I wanted to find the right team and the right fit for me.''

What position the 6-foot-10 Radmanovic will play will be up to coach Phil Jackson to decide, Kupchak said, but Radmanovic is expected to start at one of the forward spots opposite Lamar Odom. How he matches up defensively is another question.

``He's going to struggle with some big power forwards, like most people will, and he'll struggle with some of the smaller small forwards,'' Kupchak said. ``But they're going to have to guard him, too.''

Kupchak described the aspects to Radmanovic's game besides his shooting as being ``unappreciated'' -- his ability to drive to the basket and rebound -- and called him the second-best free-agent forward available after Peja Stojakovic.

With Radmanovic not turning 26 until Nov. 19, Kupchak said he would ``get better and better as the years go by.''

The Lakers, however, also acknowledge that Radmanovic's greatest strength is as a shooter.

Radmanovic hit eight 3-pointers in a January 2005 game against the Lakers, a career-high he matched this season in New York.

With Kobe Bryant and Odom breaking down defenses, Kupchak was looking for a player who could bury open shots.

The Lakers were the first team to get Radmanovic on the phone in Serbia as soon as the negotiating period opened. Kupchak placed one call, as did Jackson, Bryant, Magic Johnson and Vlade Divac, one of Radmanovic's idols.

``When you get a call at 5 a.m. when you're sleeping, it tells you something,'' Radmanovic said.

Odom won't be with Team USA: Odom is expected to withdraw from USA Basketball's training camp in the wake of the crib death of his infant son, Jayden.

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The Lakers gave Vladimir Radmanovic, left, a five-year, $30.2million contract to be one of their top outside shooters.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer