LAKERS PREACH PATIENCE; FRONT OFFICE EXPECTS TEAM TO GROW, MATURE OVER TIME.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

What was it Robert Horry said about the Lakers living a ``Wizard of Oz'' existence? No heart, no brains, no courage?

The Lakers forward made that crack after the Utah Jazz had routed his team by 35 points in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. A week and three more defeats later, the series was over.

Too quickly for the Lakers' taste.

And certainly too quickly for the taste of Lakers brass, including Jerry West and Magic Johnson, who publicly ripped the team after Utah completed the sweep Sunday afternoon. Their message, essentially: The Lakers lacked heart, lacked the passion to avoid the embarrassment of a sweep.

But in the wake of all that anger and frustration came a different message 24 hours later.

Restraint. Patience. Understanding.

To a man, Lakers players, coach Del Harris and general manager Mitch Kupchak all spoke at length Monday about the Lakers' need to grow and mature.

Whatever they lacked against Utah, they will eventually gain through experience. Not through a dismantling of the team or a dismissal of the coach. At least, that's the message for now.

``If there's something that I think we need to do, obviously patience is something that you can continue to say,'' Kupchak said, ``but there comes a point in time where you can't say patience is important. But I think with this team, if we age another year and mature, I think we'll be OK. . . . I think we have the tools necessary.''

If Harris' job was in jeopardy with another second-round exit, as some believed, it might have been saved by the Lakers taking the next step and advancing to the conference finals. But the 4-0 sweep had its own impact.

``Is there a glaring decision that I think we're faced with right now? I don't think so, no,'' Kupchak said on the issue of Harris. ``Our feelings are that, yes, he will be the head coach next year. . . . But we're all subject to review.''

``I think Del had a great year this year. . . . With the exception of the last eight days, I don't think anybody could question the job he did. He did a wonderful job.''

Yet Kupchak noted at length that expectations are high, that the organization will not be satisfied with just a trip to the conference finals.

Some change will be inevitable. Three Lakers - starter Rick Fox and reserves Mario Bennett and Jon Barry - are free agents, and all three could depart for better deals (Fox) and more playing time (Bennett and Barry).

Elden Campbell, once a presumed cornerstone of the franchise, seems a good bet to be dealt, his $49 million, seven-year contract no longer cost efficient for a guy relegated to 10 minutes per game in the conference finals. A largely ineffective backup forward but a solid starting center, Campbell is a burden to the Lakers' payroll but would be a good addition for several teams.

Harris practically said as much.

``I think Elden Campbell is one of the top 12 centers in this league. I believe Elden can go in and average 18 (points) and eight (rebounds) for anybody in the league, he's a tremendous center,'' Harris said.

The possible departure of Fox means the Lakers would probably shift power forward Horry back to small forward, his better position. A true power forward would then become their greatest need in the postseason.

The Lakers could also be in search of a perimeter shooter off the bench and, if youth is truly their greatest weakness, some seasoned veterans looking to win a championship.

``I think it was just total inexperience,'' Kobe Bryant, 19, said of the sweep. ``We have all the pieces of the puzzle, all the ingredients, all the weapons, but Utah just beat us. They're a smarter team.''

But not the more impassioned one, Harris insisted.

``I will not buy into the talk around that our guys didn't play hard or didnt have heart or emotion or energy. That's just not the truth,'' he said.

Certainly it was not the case with Fox. The former Celtic signed a one-year deal, passing up millions of dollars more, to play here with a chance at an NBA championship.

Monday, after a team meeting (Shaquille O'Neal and Nick Van Exel were no-shows) and distribution of playoff shares, Fox had tears streaming down his cheeks, a combination of frustration and the uncertainty of his future.

``Sometimes, it's good to cry, you let out those emotions,'' Fox said. ``It means you care.''

But no one else shed a tear and perhaps that was as telling as anything.

``Passion is the only thing that will win you the championship,'' Fox said. ``Collectively, the passion was not there and that gets you beat by a team that has been there and has tasted what it's like to be in the finals and wants to

go back.''

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PHOTO (Color) Nick Van Exel's reaction in the final seconds reflected his team's disappointment against Utah.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press