LAKERS NOTEBOOK: CHARLOTTE CORNERS THE MARKET ON FORMER LAKERS.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The Charlotte Bobcats have been in business for only two years, yet the NBA's newest franchise has turned into a home for unwanted Lakers in that time.

After trading guard Kareem Rush to Charlotte for two future second-round draft picks last December, the Lakers sent forward Jumaine Jones to the Bobcats at the end of October for a second-round pick in 2007.

``We're stealing everybody's players,'' Rush said. ``Everybody's coming to the Bobcats. ... (Coach Bernie Bickerstaff's) just trying to find talent that doesn't get the opportunity to shine.''

Rush and Jones were back at Staples Center on Sunday night to face the Lakers, though Rush was unable to play due to a finger injury he aggravated Friday against Golden State.

Even so, Rush has blossomed this season in Charlotte, where he has started every game, is averaging a career-best 15 points and is shooting 41.3 percent from 3-point range.

The Lakers declined to exercise Rush's fourth-year option before last season and decided he would be best served playing in Charlotte with the prospect of free agency looming. Yet the question remains unanswered about whether they gave up on Rush too soon.

``He was one of the players that I liked to play,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, ``but that was a personnel decision that was made when I wasn't part of the organization.''

The Lakers have since moved Kobe Bryant to wing, freeing up a backcourt spot that Rush could have filled. They also are shooting just 42.6 percent this season - fourth-worst in the NBA - another area in which the 25-year-old guard might have helped.

Rush suffered a knee injury at the end of last season that kept him out of the Bobcats' final 27 games. He said he has regained the confidence he had playing in college at Missouri and has been given every opportunity by Bickerstaff to be a scorer.

By trading Jones, meanwhile, the Lakers were able to thin their glut of small forwards. Jones started 23 games last season but played only 46 minutes in five exhibition games for Jackson.

``Was there a trade with Jumaine?'' Jackson said. ``What did we get?''

--Welcome back: Forward Devean George returned to action Sunday after missing five games to rest his sore left foot. Jackson said he wished George could have matched up Friday against Minnesota's Wally Szczerbiak, who went on to score 34 points.

--Also: The Lakers will bring forward Kwame Brown on their upcoming six-game trip and hope he will be able to return from a strained hamstring at some point.