LAKERS NOTEBOOK: COOK EXTENSION IS IN THE WORKS.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- There might not be a better big man in the NBA than Lakers forward Brian Cook when it comes to shooting the ball, at least in general manager Mitch Kupchak's opinion.

Whether that will lead to a contract extension has yet to be determined.

The deadline to reach an agreement with Cook is Oct. 31, the same day the Lakers open the regular season against Phoenix. Cook's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Thursday that talks are ongoing and interest is mutual.

Cook is eligible for an extension that could add up to five seasons to his rookie contract. He recently bought a house in the area and said he is comfortable with the Lakers, who drafted him in 2003.

``It's somewhere that I'd love to be,'' said Cook, who will make $1.8 million this season. ``We'll see how it goes.''

If no deal is reached, Cook would be a restricted free agent next summer, with the Lakers having the right to match any offer made to him.

``I don't think there's any doubt that Brian's an NBA player,'' Kupchak said. ``He may be the best shooting guy his size in the NBA. There are some things he doesn't do as well as others, but I don't think there's any doubt in the last two to three years that he's established himself as being an NBA player with great size and a quick release with the ability to shoot the ball with range.

``And guys like that in this league are hard to come by.''

The most difficult thing may be determining Cook's value in a league where forwards Caron Butler, Mike Dunleavy and Tayshaun Prince all signed $40 million extensions last October.

Cook, 25, averaged 7.9 points in 19 minutes last season, shooting better than 50 percent overall and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Lakers also have until Oct. 31 to exercise the fourth-year option in guard Sasha Vujacic's contract as well as the third-year option for center Andrew Bynum.

Vujacic would be an unrestricted free agent next summer if the Lakers do not exercise the option, which would pay him $1.75 million for the 2007-08 season.

Second act: The Lakers played with a lineup of Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Ronny Turiaf, Maurice Evans and Cook in the fourth quarter and beat Seattle 104-101 in their second exhibition game.

Cook had 11 of his 16 points in the fourth and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining off a pick-and- pop play with Farmar.

``He's pro-ready,'' forward Lamar Odom said of Farmar. ``That's what they call guys like him.''

Farmar finished with 10 points and five assists -- four in the fourth quarter -- in 19:23 of action. The Lakers outscored the SuperSonics 53-41 with Farmar on the court.

``I definitely feel I can contribute in a lot of ways,'' Farmar said. ``But that's not my call. I can just control the things I can control, go out there and play the way I know how to play.''

Farmar and Walton had back-to- back steals leading to baskets in the quarter. Turiaf (15 points) converted two free throws with 8.2 seconds left after previously missing five of six.

Bynum suffered a mild left ankle sprain in the second quarter and didn't return. Vladimir Radmanovic, who sustained a hand injury before Tuesday's game in Fresno, missed 7 of 8 shots and finished with six points.

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Lakers center Kwame Brown, left, is fouled by Seattle's Johan Petro while going after a rebound in the first half Monday night in Anaheim.

Francis Specker/Associated Press